On July 1, 2026, the Presidential Center of the DPA RK hosted the official opening of the Gallery of Historical Maps of Kazakhstan, along with souvenir and traditional crafts zones.
The project has been implemented in fulfilment of the instruction of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to promote and advance scholarly research on the centuries-old history of Kazakhstan’s statehood and to preserve the country’s historical and cultural heritage. The opening also marks the entry into force of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan on July 1, 2026, one of whose key provisions affirms the continuity of the thousand-year history of the Great Steppe.
“Today, we are witnessing an event whose significance extends far beyond the opening of a new exhibition or the presentation of another cultural project. The official presentation of the Gallery of Historical Maps of Kazakhstan, together with the souvenir and traditional crafts zones, carries profound national and public importance, as it takes place at the historic moment when the new Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan enters into force. Today’s presentation is the first practical initiative that clearly demonstrates the conceptual foundations of the new Constitution, particularly its key provision on the continuity of the thousand-year history of the Great Steppe. It is no coincidence that the President has consistently emphasized the need for a thoughtful and responsible approach to our national history, noting that reflection on the great eras of the past should not become a subject of abstract debate or attempts to mechanically recreate former models, but rather serve as a source of deep understanding, inspiration, and creative energy for the country’s modern development. History has value when it helps society better understand itself, strengthen national identity, learn from the past, and confidently respond to the challenges of the future,” said Bakytzhan Temirbolat, Director of the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Gallery of Historical Maps of Kazakhstan is based on the extensive scholarly research of Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Studies at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Earlier, the scholar presented his work, Continuous Statehood of Kazakhstan in the Flow of History: The Kazakh State on European and American Maps of the 16th–19th Centuries, to the Head of State. The President of Kazakhstan highly praised the publication and emphasized the importance of making its findings widely accessible to the public.
“The opening of the Gallery of Historical Maps at the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan carries deep symbolic significance. The Presidential Center is not only a key institution preserving the memory of Kazakhstan’s modern statehood. It is also a place where the history of the state, constitutional development, political culture, and national values are presented within a unified framework. Therefore, locating the Gallery of Historical Maps of Kazakhstan here transforms it into a unique intellectual, educational, diplomatic, and public platform. This Gallery will serve as visual and documentary evidence that Kazakhstan possesses deep historical roots, enduring territorial continuity, and a rich tradition of statehood. A strong state knows its roots, recognizes its responsibility in the present, and looks confidently to the future,” said Mukhit-Ardager Sydyknazarov, Director of the Institute of Contemporary Studies at L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.
The Gallery is unique in bringing together historical maps created by prominent Arab, European, and Russian travelers and researchers from the 11th to the 19th centuries, illustrating the centuries-long evolution of Kazakh statehood.
The establishment of the Gallery of Historical Maps of Kazakhstan at the Presidential Center is a strategic initiative aimed at systematizing, digitizing, preserving, and presenting historical evidence. The project is intended to become an important academic and educational bridge linking Kazakhstan’s ancient traditions of statehood with the present day, while making this heritage accessible to scholars, the general public, and future generations.
As part of the event, unique traditional crafts zones were also opened, where leading Kazakh artisans presented exclusive works of Kazakh decorative and applied arts. These included renowned jeweler Berik Alibay and distinguished military historian, ethnographer, and expert in historical weapons Kaliolla Akhmetzhan.
The presentation of the Gallery of Historical Maps of Kazakhstan together with the souvenir and traditional crafts zones as part of a single project symbolizes the inseparable connection between the centuries-old history of Kazakhstan’s statehood and the preservation of the nation’s living cultural heritage for future generations.
Prominent government officials and public figures, distinguished members of the academic community, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps, the cultural sector, and educational institutions attended the opening ceremony.
