The Museum’s collection on the history of the Chum-Labytnangi railway line’s construction has been growing steadily since 1999; today it contains more than 100 exhibits, including items of everyday camp life. The objects were collected by members of the Labytnangi branch of the Yamalo-Nenetsk Folklore Community and Museum staff during various expeditions along the track of the ‘Chum-Labytnangi’ railway line, leading to the stations Obskaya, Nikita, 110th km, settlement Polyarnyi, station Eletskaya etc.
The first temporary exhibition dealing with the Gulag, named ‘The History of Building Site No 501’, opened in March 2000 in the entrance hall of the town’s Central Library. Ever since then, the Museum has organised an annual exhibition at the Labytnangi Grammar School. Examples include the one-day exhibition ‘To the Victims of Political Repression’ (30.11.2001), ‘The importance of Memory’ (October-November 2002), ‘Building Site No 501: Facts and Myths’ (October 2003), ‘Building of the Century’ (30.10.2003). These exhibitions displayed objects and documents from the Museum’s collection on the history of the Chum-Labytnangi railway, such as photographs, documents (including material compiled during the research expedition), items of everyday camp life and working tools.
All exhibitions were accompanied by documentary films on the history of the Gulag, excursions, lectures and discussions. Apart from conducting research, Museum staff give lectures and lead discussion groups at the local Grammar School and the Schools No. 3 and No. 8.
