Dioramas At The Namangan Museum of Local Lore

Usually, the best parts of a regional museum are the old dioramas. The themes, the patina, the ragged glory of how to best indoctrinate youth so many years ago. The Namangan Museum of Local Lore has a great set of old dioramas, full of grand intentions.

King cotton. Namangan is in the Fergana Valley, a major area for growing the crop. Not sure why they're growing dystopian giant cotton that dwarfs the harvesting machinery.

The local fauna is always a popular subject. Maybe those major horns keep you from seeing birds pluck major prey right behind you? Bored boar.

An elaborate set of a mountain road with military vehicle, representing the 1980s era Soviet war in Afghanistan.

More crop props, now for wheat. Fun with photo blow up backgrounds. Antelope, perhaps saiga.

Frothing wolf. "I need the dentist!"

Visiting The Namangan Museum of Local Lore

Every town in Uzbekistan seems to have a regional museum. There's usually a collection of archeological things, tools, Khan era customs, economic might displays, some leftover Soviet era propaganda. What's important to Namangan?

Grand entrance with gold lions.

Portraits of Soviet officers and more military might in the cases. Tsar era furniture, luggage from the upper class set.

Covering up. A diorama illustrating a typical Muslim home from the 1800s.

More elder honoring, the requisite picture on a vase. Going way back to dino time, looking a little like a homemade Halloween house set. Fun with burlap.

The future is now! Fast train, named the Afrosiyab, coming at you.