Merchant Totma: From Salt Works to Sea Discoveries

17 points7 km0 hours

This route introduces you to the unique salt-making trade that made Totma one of the richest towns of the Russian North. This old town of seafarers and explorers also preserves the memory of the Totma merchants who conquered Alaska and California. We'll begin the tour at “Totma Salt,” a cultural and historical landscape complex in the village of Varnitsy, Totma District, Vologda Region. It introduces the ancient salt-making trade, which played an important role in the town's development. Here you'll learn all about salt making and see open-air museum exhibits and the Kokorev Garden. The route was prepared as part of the “Vsyako Doyedem” (“We'll Get There Anyway”) project.

Route author

Yulia Drugashkova

Things to do

История
Парки
Ремесло

Route points (17)

Moroshka House of Traditions and Crafts in Totma

Point on route “Merchant Totma: From Salt Works to Sea Discoveries”

Point 10

Moroshka House of Traditions and Crafts

Ремесло • 🔍🖼️ Spot interesting details • 🛍️ Find a unique souvenir

History

The Moroshka (Cloudberry) House of Traditions and Crafts is one of Totma's favorite cultural venues, where many great events are held. Who would have thought that a few years ago the house stood with broken windows, awaiting demolition? The Totma Museum Association took the building under its wing, sealing off all access to the inside at a time when some of the floors and stoves were already missing. Then activists came up with the project “Salt—in Traditions!” and used grant money to turn their ideas into reality. Today Moroshka has become a place for preserving and presenting folk traditions and crafts.

Inside Moroshka: What to Buy and What to Learn

The house that Moroshka occupies looks like a village izba. The town's souvenir shop has also moved here, and you can easily lose track of time choosing beautiful and tasty things. You'll find goods by Totma craftspeople and artisans, from natural cosmetics to household items. You can also sign up for workshops here: for example, making real presnoviki (unleavened flatbreads) baked in a Russian stove, making gingerbread, or weaving friendship bracelets.