Cultural institutions formation in the cities of Eastern Siberia (the second half of the XIX-beginning of the XX centuries)

The article considers the features of cultural institutions formation in the cities of the Pre-Baikalia and Transbaikalia. The role of scientific societies, scientists, political exiles, various intelligentsia, trade and industrial entrepreneurs in the creation and development of museums, libraries, performing societies in Irkutsk, Verkhneudinsk, Chita, Nerchensk, Kyakhta in the second half of the XIX - early XX centuries is shown.