The museum of the legendary aircraft designer Peter Dementiev has opened in Tatarstan
On the eve of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, on May 8, 2025, in the village of Alyoshkin-Saplyk, Drozhzhanovsky district, the grand opening of the museum of military and labor glory "The feat to live forever", dedicated to the legendary Minister of the USSR Aviation Industry Peter Vasilyevich Dementiev, took place.
The museum complex opened its doors in the small homeland of the outstanding figure of aviation, twice Hero of Socialist Labor, recipient of nine Orders of Lenin.
The opening ceremony of the museum was attended by Alexander Valeryevich Shadrikov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan, Gulnara Zakarievna Gabdrakhmanova, Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Tatarstan for Archival Affairs, Nikolai Fedorovich Ugaslov, General Director of the Specialized Developer Tus Joint Stock Company, local residents, veterans and schoolchildren.
"This is not just the opening of a museum, it is the return of historical memory, a tribute to a great man whose talent and work made our country one of the leading aviation powers in the world," Alexander Shadrikov emphasized in his welcoming speech. "The opening of this museum in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory is especially symbolic, because it was Peter Vasilyevich who led the evacuation of aircraft factories during the war and ensured the production of aircraft that brought us victory in the sky. Today we must remember each of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers, whose names are carved on the Obelisk of Victory.
Each of them is a hero for us, from whom we should take an example, and whom we should look up to. Words of great gratitude to the school staff, teachers, and all our caring residents who contributed to the creation of the museum. Words of gratitude to our President of Tatarstan, Rustam Nurgalievich Minnikhanov, who gave us a wonderful House of Culture, where the Museum of our History appeared. Those who do not know the history, their past, will have no future."
The head of the Alyoshkin-Saplyksky rural settlement, Pyotr Nikolaevich Artemyev, noted in his speech: "Pyotr Vasilyevich's whole life is a story of devoted service to the Motherland. Our museum will become a place to preserve this great heritage and pass on knowledge to future generations."
Gulnara Zakarievna Gabdrakhmanova, Chairman of the State Committee for Archival Affairs of the Republic of Tatarstan, noted the importance of preserving the memory of the past war and the courage of veterans.
"80 years have passed, and to this day our search teams are finding the graves of war heroes, revealing the names of the people who are buried there. We still can't even say the exact death toll. And the initiative that we see here today, this museum, is a tribute to the memory of such heroes. I would like to thank the Minister of Ecology, Alexander Valeryevich, and all concerned people for taking such care of our past, your small homeland. It's worth a lot."
After the speeches, the honored guests cut a symbolic ribbon. The right to open the museum was granted to Alexander Valeryevich Shadrikov, Gulnara Zakarievna Gabdrakhmanova, Nikolai Fedorovich Ugaslov and Ophelia Morozova, a 4th grade student at Alyoshkin-Saplyk secondary school.
On the ground floor of the new museum there is a local history exhibition, which presents historical details of the village's life, archaeological finds found by villagers, among them there is even a mammoth tusk, fossilized remains of long-extinct cephalopods. On the second floor of the museum there are unique exhibits: personal belongings of Pyotr Vasilyevich Dementiev, documents, photographs, mock-ups of airplanes created with his participation. The central place is occupied by a tunic with the orders of the legendary aircraft designer. There is also a section dedicated to Dementiev's contribution to the development of the aviation industry in Tatarstan – the history of aircraft factories evacuated to Kazan, the creation of new production facilities and personnel training.
The museum was created with the support of the charity foundation "Blagodeyanie". The restored parental home of Dementiev, which was also recreated in the hero's homeland, has become an integral part of the museum complex, symbolizing the connection of times and respect for the memory of the great man.
The museum staff conducted the first tour for the guests, telling them about the life of Peter Dementiev, from a simple rural boy from a Chuvash village to the Minister of Aviation Industry of the USSR, under whose leadership the first domestic Tu-104 jet passenger airliner, the world's first supersonic Tu-144 passenger aircraft and many other achievements of Soviet aviation were commissioned.
The creation of the museum was a significant event not only for the residents of the village of Alyoshkin-Saplyk, but also for the entire Republic of Tatarstan, emphasizing the importance of preserving the historical memory of outstanding compatriots and their contribution to the Great Victory.
For reference: Peter Vasilyevich Dementiev (1907-1977) was born in the village of Alyoshkin-Saplyk, Simbirsk province (now Drozhzhanovsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan). From 1953 to 1977, he served as Minister of Aviation Industry of the USSR. For his services, he was twice awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labor, was awarded nine Orders of Lenin and many other state awards.