Kazan is the capital of Tatarstan, a republic of Russia. Not only is the state a great mixture of Russian and Tatar culture, but it is also where you can find a museum that celebrates the old USSR. For those feeling a bit nostalgic or who just want a peek behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet Lifestyle Museum, a kitschy time capsule of rare American imports (like rock & roll albums and Levi’s jeans) and Soviet-made counterparts, is the place for you. Held in a former communal apartment that would have been home to about twenty people, this small museum has a collection dating from the 1930s through the 1990s, with displays of Soviet-era artwork, propaganda books, and sixty guitars signed by everyone from Sting to the Scorpions (Western music was hugely popular in the USSR). It’s also very interactive as visitors can touch just about anything. Try on Soviet-era clothes for photo ops (hey, you gotta let the people in 2015 know what you’re doing) or play with Soviet-era games like ice hockey. And the best part is it’s totally FREE! But there is a shop because, you know, capitalism.
Soviet Lifestyle Museum in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia
