The IV Local History Conference, "Unknown Sillamäe"

On 14 March 2026 the IV local history conference “Unknown Sillamäe: The Legacy of Aleksandr Popolitov” took place at the Cultural and Leisure Centre in Sillamäe. The event was organised by the Sillamäe Museum in cooperation with the Sillamäe City Government and the Sillamäe Cultural and Leisure Centre. The conference brought together researchers, museum specialists, historians and local history enthusiasts interested in the historical development and cultural life of Ida-Viru County.

The conference was opened with welcoming remarks by the Mayor of Sillamäe, Tõnis Kalberg, who emphasised the importance of preserving local cultural memory and supporting historical research at the regional level.

The “Unknown Sillamäe” conference series has been organised by the Sillamäe Museum since 2020 and aims to explore lesser-known aspects of the city’s past. The 2026 conference was dedicated to the legacy of Aleksandr Popolitov, one of the founders of the Sillamäe Museum. Popolitov was known as an artist, restorer, collector and local historian whose work played an important role in documenting and preserving the historical heritage of the city. The conference also marked what would have been his 80th birthday.

The programme began with welcoming remarks and an introduction to the conference theme. Participants emphasised the importance of local history research for understanding the social and cultural development of the region, especially in a city such as Sillamäe, whose history has long been associated with secrecy due to its past as a closed industrial town.

The first presentation of the conference was delivered by Dr Mohammad Toyon. His presentation examined the relationship between cultural participation, museum activities and demographic changes in Ida-Viru County. The study analysed regional patterns of participation in cultural life and discussed how demographic developments influence the functioning and audience engagement of cultural institutions, particularly museums.

The following presentation was given by Ilja Davõdov, who discussed the Seidlitz family and their connections with the nearby city of Narva. Drawing on archaeological findings and local historical research, the presentation introduced new information about the role of the Seidlitz family in the regional historical context. The session concluded with a discussion focusing on questions related to the early history of Sillamäe.

After a coffee break, the conference continued with the second session. Galina Ponomarjova presented research on childhood experiences in Sillamäe during the period 1936–1944 based on the memoirs of S. Soldatov. The presentation provided a personal perspective on everyday life in the region during a turbulent historical period.

The next presentation was delivered by Timur Guzairov, who examined ideological and political attitudes among students through archival materials related to the history of Sillamäe Secondary School No. 3. His research explored how political discourse and educational policies were reflected in the school environment during the Soviet period.

This session concluded with a presentation by Ivika Maidre, who introduced the Vaivara dialect dictionary. The project aims to preserve the linguistic heritage of the Vaivara region by documenting local vocabulary and dialectal expressions that form part of the region’s cultural identity.

Following the lunch break, the conference continued with the third session. Annela Samuel presented a sociological perspective on Sillamäe, focusing on changes in local identity and belonging since the 1990s. Her presentation analysed how social transformations and economic changes have influenced perceptions of place and community in the city.

An international perspective was provided by Francisco Martínez, whose presentation examined hidden and semi-private spaces such as basements, garages, dachas and bunkers in Ida-Viru County. The study explored how these spaces reflect everyday practices, adaptation strategies and historical experiences in the region.

The final presentation of the conference was dedicated to the life and creative work of Aleksandr Popolitov. A representative of the Sillamäe Museum presented an overview of his artistic activity, restoration work and contributions to building the museum’s collections. The presentation highlighted his role in preserving historical artefacts and documenting the cultural history of Sillamäe.

The conference concluded with a discussion and closing remarks summarising the main themes of the event. Participants then had the opportunity to attend a curator-guided tour of the exhibition “A. Popolitovi pärand: dialoog muuseumis” at the Sillamäe Museum.

The IV “Unknown Sillamäe” conference once again demonstrated the importance of local history research and collaboration between scholars, museums and the community. By bringing together researchers from different disciplines, the event contributed to a deeper understanding of the historical, cultural and social processes that have shaped Sillamäe and the wider Ida-Viru region.