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During the visit, the guests described the Center not only as a major complex showcasing Uzbekistan’s rich historical and cultural heritage, but also as a modern educational space connecting the past, present, and future.

Olga Vladislavovna Taratynova, Director of the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum and Heritage Site, noted that the changes taking place in Uzbekistan, particularly the attention devoted to young people and cultural heritage, had made a profound impression on her.

“It seemed to me that Uzbekistan’s cities are changing very rapidly. Most importantly, these changes are for the better. This is not merely a compliment; I believe it is an objective reality. I see so many young people and children on the streets, and the cities are clean and well maintained,” she said.

One of the most memorable aspects of the visit for the guest was the Islamic Civilization Center.

“This Center left a profound impression on me and stirred powerful emotions. I believe that establishing such a Center was also a very sound decision from a policy perspective. One can only imagine how much effort and hard work went into its creation. I was told it took eight years, which is a remarkably short period for such a vast complex and the extraordinarily intricate, meticulous work it contains,” said the Director of the museum and heritage site.

Olga Taratynova particularly praised the Center’s approach to engaging with the younger generation.

“Most importantly, the Center’s primary audience is young people. This place deepens their respect for their own culture and identity. In Russia today, we are also devoting considerable attention to exploring our roots and reconnecting with folk crafts, decorative and applied arts, and traditional culture. I believe that, in this regard, we are moving along parallel paths in a certain sense,” she said.

In her view, the significance of the Center extends beyond merely presenting the past.

“As I understand it, this Center is not a place that simply presents Uzbekistan’s historical past as something frozen in time. On the contrary, it is a dynamic and adaptable space that will continue to evolve, change, and explore traditional applied arts and culture. You have done an excellent job. The next step is to study your culture and its distinctive character even more deeply,” said Olga Taratynova.

Iraida Vladimirovna Bott, Deputy Director of the museum and heritage site for research and educational affairs, highlighted the Center’s architectural design and museum exhibitions.

“I had heard a great deal about this Center and expected to see a vast and remarkable complex. However, my actual impressions exceeded even my expectations,” she said.

She particularly praised the Center’s four portals, each facing a different direction and decorated to reflect the character of the corresponding region, as well as the extensive use of craftsmanship and natural materials.

“As professionals engaged in restoring historical monuments and working with historical materials, we fully understand how much effort, painstaking work, and expertise lie behind what has been accomplished here. This is an undertaking of immense scale and extraordinary complexity,” said Iraida Bott.

However, one of the Center’s most significant features for her was the combination of rare artifacts in its exhibitions with modern methods of display.

“As a museum professional, I may hold classical, even conservative, views. After all, a museum specialist’s primary responsibility is to preserve history, objects, and artifacts. Yet beyond the exhibitions’ visual appeal and interactive features—qualities particularly important for the younger generation—I was amazed by the truly unique exhibits that have been assembled here in recent years,” she said.

“There are exceptional exhibits here, each of which deserves a museum exhibition of its own. This was what impressed me most,” Iraida Bott emphasized.

Indeed, the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan is emerging today not only as a magnificent architectural landmark, but also as a major educational platform that brings together history, science, culture, and modern approaches to museology.

The assessment offered by representatives of the Tsarskoe Selo State Museum and Heritage Site once again highlights an important truth: Uzbekistan’s historical heritage is not merely being preserved today—it is being reinterpreted, studied, and presented to a new generation in a contemporary language.