The Museum of Speeds is a museum in Chkalovsk, dedicated to the history of high-speed shipbuilding and the designer of ekranoplans and hydrofoil vessels Rostislav Alekseev. The museum occupies the entire second floor of the V. P. Chkalov House of Culture — a Stalinist Empire-style building with a small tower, constructed in 1940; Volga.[4] In 2026, the museum underwent renovation.

2026 Renovation

In August 2026, Gleb Nikitin visited Chkalovsk on a working trip to inspect the progress of the museum's renovation.[1] According to the Governor, completion of the renovation was planned approximately one week after his visit — in time for the opening of Russian Wings (festival) (12+), scheduled for 8 August 2026.[2] The festival programme included an air show, water performances, the Vasilevsky Bazaar, and sports venues.[2]

Nikitin noted that unlike the neighbouring Memorial Museum of V. P. Chkalov, where the central figure is Valery Chkalov, the main subject of the Museum of Speeds is Rostislav Alekseev — and not only him. The permanent exhibition comprises five sections: one on burlak (barge-hauling) labour, one on the beginnings of steam navigation, two halls on the operating principles of ekranoplans, and a hall dedicated directly to R. E. Alekseev, housing models of vessels he designed, his office, awards, and documents. The museum displays a unique scale model of the flooded portion of Vasilyeva Sloboda, as well as an aquarium installation with live fish, its floor and back wall decorated to resemble an underwater townscape amid former residential buildings. The museum's collection includes photographs, furniture, antiques, personal belongings, originals and copies of documents, and scale models of ekranoplans and ships; interactive media in the form of video screenings are widely used. The museum is part of the "Russian Wings" museum quarter, located at: Nizhny Novgorod Region, Chkalovsk, 4 Chkalova Street.[6][5][4][1]

The museum opened in 2010 and is dedicated to the development of speed on water — from barge hauling to ekranoplans — as well as to the designer R. E. Alekseev.[5]

Links

Sources

  1. tonkosti.ru — The Museum of Speeds occupies the entire second floor of the V. P. Chkalov House of Culture — a Stalinist Empire-style building with a small tower, constructed in 1940; the building's windows face (archive)
  2. russkiyekrylya.rf — The museum opened in 2010 and is dedicated to the development of speed on water — from barge hauling to ekranoplans — as well as to the designer R. E. Alekseev. (archive)
  3. idemvmuzei.ru — The museum is part of the "Russian Wings" museum quarter, located at: Nizhny Novgorod Region, Chkalovsk, 4 Chkalova Street. (archive)
  1. Vremya N — Gleb Nikitin visited the "Khuliganodome" in Chkalovsk (archive)
  2. Newsroom24 — Governor Gleb Nikitin evaluated the work of the "Khuliganodome" and the museums in Chkalovsk — Politics
  3. Otkrytyy Nizhny — Gleb Nikitin visited the "Khuliganodome" and the Chkalov Museum in Chkalovsk — Politics