Among the historic merchant mansions of Petropavlovsk, the house of merchant Yuzefovich stands out. This elegant wooden mansion resembles a fairytale house rather than a typical city residence. Today, it houses the North Kazakhstan Museum of Fine Arts.

From Private Home to Cultural Landmark

The house was built in 1909 for merchant Georgy Yuzefovich. In the early 20th century, trade in Petropavlovsk was thriving and affluent merchants commissioned elegant mansions across the city.

After the 1917 Revolution, its fate changed dramatically. Like many merchant residences, it was nationalized and repurposed for public use. Over the decades, the building served as a juvenile correctional facility, a hospital, a school, and a college. Only in 1989, after being recognized as an architectural monument, did it finally become home to the art museum.

Art and Heritage on Display

Today, the museum exhibits paintings, graphic art, sculpture, and folk art. The collection includes works by renowned Kazakhstani, Soviet, and international artists. A special section is dedicated to manuscripts and personal belongings of well-known writers from the region.

Architectural Features

The building itself is a remarkable architectural monument. It is a carved log mansion combining elements of Russian Art Nouveau, eclecticism, and traditional wooden architecture.

One of its most striking features is the tented dome with a spire above the vestibule on the main façade. Carved architraves, decorative cornices, and the complex roof composition make the mansion one of the most distinctive buildings in the city.

The design is believed to be by the renowned architect Andrei Zenkov, the creator of the famous Ascension Cathedral in Almaty.

How to Get There?

Address: 83, 314th Rifle Division St. Several bus stops are located near the museum:

• Public Service Center (TSON), served by buses #6, 8M, 24M, 25A
• Eurasian Market, served by buses #2, 9, 27, 31, 101
• Kazakhstan Movie Theater, served by a bus #101

Other tourist attractions near the museum:

• Square of Alexander Pushkin
• Monument to the Soldiers of the 314th Rifle Division
• Park of the First President
• North Kazakhstan Museum of Local History
• Constitution of Kazakhstan Street