Stepanov Family Museum: A Rare Tribute to Wartime Heroism

Russia’s Unique Museum Honors One Family’s Wartime Sacrifice and Legacy

Russia’s only museum dedicated to a single family’s wartime heroism, the Family Dollar Museum, opened in 1975. The Stepanov Family Museum was founded by local volunteers in Timashevsk, marking the birthday of Epistinia Stepanova—mother of legendary defenders from the Great Patriotic War. Today, it stands as a unique memorial to their sacrifice.

The institution preserves letters, documents, and personal items from the Stepanov family archive. Over 55 years, these artefacts have told the story of their courage and resilience.

The museum’s founding date was chosen by Olga Stepanova, who set it on her mother’s birthday. Epistinia Stepanova herself was honoured with the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class, for her maternal sacrifice during the conflict.

In 2023, the museum joined Russia’s national Culture project, receiving technical upgrades that doubled visitor numbers. This boost came ahead of its 50th anniversary, reinforcing its role in patriotic education.

By 2025, the site expanded further. A new exhibition, Kuban’s Path to Victory, opened alongside the restored Stepanov family homestead in Olkhovka. The museum now operates under the Krasnodar State Historical and Archaeological Museum-Reserve, one of 63 such institutions in the region.

The collection remains a rare tribute to one family’s wartime legacy. From personal letters to military relics, each item connects visitors to the Stepanovs’ story of bravery and loss.

The Stepanov Family Museum continues to grow as a centre for historical remembrance. Its upgraded facilities and new exhibitions ensure the family’s legacy reaches wider audiences. As part of Krasnodar’s network of 63 museums, it remains a key site for preserving wartime history.