Melikhovo (State Literary-Memorial Museum-Reserve
of A.P. Chekhov) is one of the main Chekhov museums in Russia.
Located in the vicinity of the city of Chekhov, Moscow region. Here,
from 1892 to 1899, the writer lived with his parents and immediate
relatives. Before leaving for the Crimea, Chekhov sold this estate,
and after the revolution it fell into neglect.
In the XVIII
and until the middle of the XIX century there were estates of
landowners Naumov and Chufarovsky in Melikhovo. In the second half
of the XIX century - the Kuvshinnikovs (two estates, one of which
later passed to Varennikovs, both lost) and the Sergeevs settled
here. The last
owner since 1888 is artist N.P. Sorokhtin. From 1892 to 1899 - A.P.
Chekhov, then until 1908 - manufacturer S.N. Konshin. The last owner
until 1917 was Baron ND Stewart.
The wooden one-storeyed main house of the Melikhovo estate was constructed in 1840s with subsequent alterations, restored in the 1960s, has been preserved. The outhouse of 1894 was designed by A.P. Chekhov, a kitchen and a shed of 1890s, a small park with a garden and a pond. In the estate there were many famous figures of Russian culture. The wooden church of the Nativity of Christ, erected in 1757 by A. Naumov and rebuilt after the fire of 1994. Local village cemetery is located nearby with some old tombstone. The bell tower erected by the project and with the funds of A.P. Chekhov, dismantled earlier. The church was attributed to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in the estate Vaskino. At the edge of the village Melikhovo a wooden building of the school was built thank to the effort of A.P. Chekhov. Today an exposition "Zemskaya school of the end of the XIX century" is held within its walls.
In the XVIII and until the middle of the XIX century
in Melikhovo there were estates of the landowners Naumovs and
Chufarovskys. In the second half of the 19th century - the Kuvshinnikovs
(two estates, one of which later passed to the Varennikovs, both were
lost) and the Sergeevs. The last owner since 1888 is the artist N. P.
Sorokhtin. From 1892 to 1899 - A.P. Chekhov, then until 1908 -
manufacturer S.N. Konshin. Last owner until 1917 Baron N. D. Stuart.
The wooden one-story main house of the 1840s with subsequent
alterations, restored in the 1960s, an outbuilding of 1894, built
according to the project of A.P. Chekhov, a kitchen and a barn of the
1890s, a small park with a garden and a pond have been preserved. The
estate was visited by many famous figures of Russian culture. In the
village cemetery there is a wooden church of the Nativity of Christ,
erected in 1757 by A. Naumov and restored after a fire in 1994. The bell
tower, erected according to the project and at the expense of A.P.
Chekhov, was dismantled earlier. There are old tombstones in the
cemetery. The church was assigned to the Church of the Nativity of the
Virgin in the Vaskino estate. On the edge of the village in a wooden
school building, opened through the efforts of A.P. Chekhov, there is an
exposition "Zemskaya school of the late 19th century."
The decision to establish the museum as a branch of
the Serpukhov Museum of Local Lore was made in 1939. In 1941, the museum
opened to visitors, and Pyotr Nikolaevich Solovyov became its first
director. The writer's sister M. P. Chekhova and his nephew S. M.
Chekhov took an active part in recreating the atmosphere of the
Chekhov's house.
The museum reflects the activities of Chekhov as
a writer, doctor, public figure. The collection of the museum in
Melikhovo has more than 20 thousand exhibits. The museum contains
paintings by artists - friends of the writer: I. Levitan, V. Polenov, N.
Chekhov, P. Seregin and others. Melikhovo is a venue for concerts,
theater and music festivals, exhibitions, and Christmas trees.
One of the first monuments to the writer in the USSR was erected on the
territory of the museum in 1951 (sculptor G. I. Motovilov, architect L.
M. Polyakov)
Bobkov, Konstantin Vasilyevich (2004 - present)
Bychkov, Yuri Alexandrovich (1994-2004)[2]
Abramenkova Lyudmila
Zakharovna (1987-1994)
Avdeev, Yuri Konstantinovich (1951-1987)
Kornyushin Pyotr Kuzmich (1949-1951)
Simanov Sergey Ivanovich
(1945-1949)
Vanag Petr Ivanovich (1943-1944)
Solovyov, Pyotr
Nikolaevich (1940-1941)