One of the city's most fascinating museum, the Arsenev Regional Museum, which dates from 1890 received a recent makeover adding interactive displays to its three floors of galleries.
Exhibits delve into local history, covering early explorers to the region, Vlad's vibrant Chinatown from the early 1900s, and Civil War (with a short silent film playing across a broken screen). In the 'Vremya Dela' room, you can touch and smell the exhibits (the fragrant jar of sea cucumbers is quite powerful). Docents are eager to help, but generally speak Russian only, though occasional English-speaking guides are available for free tours.
