Museum of National Architecture and Urban Life of Gyumri

The National Museum of Architecture and Urban Life is in the center of the city. It is the famous house of a rich trader, Petros Dzitoghtsyan, built in 1872. 4 brothers originally from Western Armenian village of Dzitogh, migrated to the city of Alexandropol. The building of the Museum is a masterpiece of architecture, designed in a combination of pink and black tuff that is prevalent in 1860-1870-ies in Gyumri.
In the museum you can get acquainted with the life and culture of Gyumri in the 19th century Gyumri. The collections is rich, highlighting the exceptional mastery of the local craftsmen, including contemporary artwork, carpets and handicraft from Gyumri.
People in Gyumri had many copper jewelry and pottery studios. Men were occupied in shoe-making and blacksmith work, while girls learned needle-work, sewing, and carpet-making. 

Sergey Merkurov’s House Museum

Sergey Dmytrevich Merkurov was a prominent Soviet sculptor-monumentalist of Greek-Armenian origin, born in Gyumri. The museum is opened in his family house built in 1984. Merkurov’s most famous collection is the death masks of famous people, world leaders, about 59 masks of Soviet leaders, including the only original death mask of Lenin. He is an author of more than 300 death masks. Before his death Merkurov gave this house to the city in order to serve later on to art. 

Aslamazyan Sisters Gallery

This is Mariam and Yeranuhi Aslamazyan Sisters’ Gallery, who graduated from Leningrad Institute of Arts.
The sisters travelled a lot and painted scenes of their journeys in many parts of the world, something that was extremely unusual for any Soviet artist of the time.
The Gallery is in a black tuff building with a beautiful flower- garden, built during 1880-1900. Initially it was a residential house, than renovated and turned into the Mariam and Yeranuhi Aslamazyan Sisters’ Gallery. The building suffered during the 1988th earthquake was rebuilt later on.  
The first floor of the gallery is dedicated to Yeranuhi’s works, whereas on the second you see Mariam’s works. Besides the paintings the ceramic plates by Mariam Aslamazyan, and the pottery works by Yeranuhi are to be found in the gallery. Mariam’a work are also represented in the State Tretyakov Gallery, e.g. “Armenian Still Life” and “Red Cactus Flower”.