Dumpling Museum (Miass)

The Dumpling Museum is a private museum in Miass, Chelyabinsk Oblast, in the old part of town on Proletarskaya Street. It occupies the historic house of the merchant Smirnov and is often called the first museum in Russia devoted to pelmeni, the Russian dumplings; a monument to the dumpling stands in its courtyard.

History

The Smirnov house was built in the mid-19th century by Vasily Gavrilovich Smirnov. It is not a single building but a group of 19th-century merchant buildings, listed as a cultural heritage site of Chelyabinsk Oblast. The Dumpling Museum opened in the mansion about ten years ago; it was founded by Elena Nikolaevna Semenova. Over time it has grown into a small centre where craft workshops and exhibitions on the life of Ural merchants share the house with the dumpling collection.

What to see

The exhibition covers the history of pelmeni and the customs around them, with old recipes, photographs and models of dumplings and their relatives from other countries. Next to them are objects from the kitchens and everyday life of earlier generations.

The house also has workshops in 19th-century style: weaving, tailoring, carpentry and pottery. A separate exhibition, "Window Frame and Chest", shows carved window surrounds and old chests.

On 5 January 2018 a monument to the dumpling was unveiled in the courtyard: a bronze sculpture by Yuri Fyodorov of a bearded merchant at a table with a single large dumpling on his plate. It has become a favourite photo spot, and many people come into the courtyard just to see it.

Tours and master classes

The main activity for visitors is the dumpling-making master class. It includes a talk on the history of the dish, a tasting of different fillings and several ways of pinching the dough shut; at the end everyone eats the dumplings they made. The museum also runs tours, including one on the town's history ("Miass, a town in the golden valley"), and stages small performances.

Good to know

The museum is in the old part of Miass; the merchant complex can also be entered from Sporta Street. According to directories it is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, and tours and master classes cost from 150 to 500 roubles; check the hours and prices in advance, especially for a group master class.