Urban Life Museum is a btanch of Museum of History of Irkutsk named after A. M. Sibiriakov, it is located on Dekabrskikh Sobytiy, 77. Since XIX the building, where the Museum is located, belonged to the homestead on Laninskaya street, 47 (now Dekabrskikh Sobytyi). This homestead belonged to Irkutsk merchant’s family of Fyodor Mikhailovich Polkanov. In 1923 the homestead was given to the State and during ten years the city could provide residents with flats in it. Baikal-Lensk National Reserve administration was located in this building. Polkanov’s house was moved to the territory of Historical and Memorial Complex called “Decembrists in Irkutsk”. There was restoration work done which resulted in reconstruction of traditional façade décor, friezes under the eaves of the roof and a thread. The foundation of the house is made of rubble stone, the lower crowns of the house are made of larch, the upper ones are made of pine. There is an exhibition in this branch dedicated to the life of Irkutsk dwellers in XIX – beginning of XX. There are several exhibition sets here: “Living Room”, “Dining Room”, “Study”, “Boudoir of the hostess”, “Nursery”. In 2011 a structural department of the Urban Life Museum was opened in the renewed mansion. It was Tea Museum, located on Dekabrskikh Sobytiy, 77a. The mansion is situated on the corner of Dekabrskikh Sobytiy and Engels streets and is protected because it is included in the Decembrists in Irkutsk Memorial Complex. The mansion construction was done during the period of 1830–1840. The Baiborodin’s family (Anna Felixovna, the merchant and here son court counselor Nikolai Mikhailovich with the wife Anna Fedorovna) owned the land here. The mansion belonged to the Baiborodins til the beginning of 1930s. The expositions of the Tea Museum have exhibits dedicated to the tea-trade history of Irkutsk and of the tea-trading merchants, as well as of the tea tradition in Russia and in other countries. In the basement, there are presentations, tea-parties and other public events. Irkutsk Information Tourist Service is situated in the same mansion.
Tourist Information Office of Irkutsk is a service for tourists and guests of the city. Here every visitor is welcome. Anyone can get any information about the city of Irkutsk here, as well as about the lake Baikal and other famous tourist destinations of the region. The employees of the Office will happily provide guests with any information about local attractions, entertainment and tours. They will also show hospitality by treating the guests with delicious tea. The employees of the Office speak Russian, English, Spanish, Japanese and Italian. Guests can take maps of Irkutsk and Baikal in the Office, travel guides and leaflets in three languages. Guests can use free Internet and enjoy concierge service and buy authentic souvenirs. Tourist Information Office is situated in the historical part of the cit, at the premises of famous wooden complex – House of Europe. The working schedule of the Office branch depends on the season (it is open from May to October). The branch is located on Kirov Square which is considered to be one of the most beautiful places of the city.
