Kozmodemyansk

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Kozmodemyansk (Russian: Козьмодемья́нск; Hill Mari: Цикмä, Cikmä; Meadow Mari: Чыкма, Čykma) is a town in the Mari El Republic, Russia, located at the confluence of the Vetluga and the Volga Rivers at 56°20′12″N, 46°34′16″E. Population: 22,771 (2002 Census); 24,746 (1989 Census).

Kozmodemyansk is the administrative center of Gornomariysky District of Mari El. It was founded by Tsar Ivan IV in 1552 after his conquest of Kazan as a frontier fortress to guard against Tatar attacks. The town was named after Sts. Cosmas and Damian. For many years there was nothing at the location besides a streltsy fortress. As the Volga route was established, a town gradually grew around the fortress, but the region remained largely populated by the Mari people. The town had a fair famous for wooden and wicker ware goods produced by local craftsmen. The town was very active during summer, but winters brought halt to river traffic. In the 20th century the town developed industrially.

A local museum was opened in 1919 which now contains paintings by many Mari and Russian masters. A regional museum to preserve artifacts of the Mari culture was opened in 1979. An open-air ethnographic museum opened in 1983. It contains over sixty varied buildings typical of Mari culture. They house over 2,000 exhibits of artisan craft and tools. Even the variety of fences around the grounds display typical Mari designs.