The Panorama “Defence of Sevastopol 1854-1855” was the beginning of foundation of the Museum of Heroic Defence of Sevastopol. There are the following historic units:

panorama “Defence of Sevastopol 1854-1855”(opened on May 14/27, 1905);

“The Defence tower of Malakhov Mound” (built in 1854);

Diorama “Assault of Sapun Mount on May 7, 1944” (opened on November 4, 1954);

“St Vladimir Cathedral –the burial – place of outstanding Admirals M.P.Lazarev, V.A. Kornilov, V.I. Istomin and P.S. Nakhimov” (sanctified in 1888);

“The House of Sevastopol’s Underground secret members (1942-1944)” (opened in 1967).

The Museum of Heroic Defence and Liberation of Sevastopol was created by the decision of the USSR Council of Ministers (on August 6,1960). It is the historic and art museum of the first category. It is in the system of Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine. It is placed under the command of Sevastopol City State Administration.

The personnel of the Museum includes 220 researchers and technical employees, united in 17 departments. The studies of Sevastopol history since the year of its foundation (1783) until nowadays are envisaged by the scientific conception of the museum. Some themes are considered to be the priority. They are: the Crimean War 1853-1856 and the Defence of Sevastopol 1854-1855; the Defence of Sevastopol 1941-1942; the Liberation of the city in 1944; the modern period in the development of Sevastopol.

The acquisition of stock collections, which includes 115,000 exhibits, is carried out in accordance with scientific problems. About 5% of them are exhibited in modern expositions.

Nowadays 500,000 people yearly see the departments of the museum (during 1970s-80s up to 3 mln. people visited them yearly).