Even with its somewhat diminished collection, this museum inspires delight and wonder. One of the oldest of Odessa’s museums, it was founded in 1825 and later moved to a specially designed facility in 1883. An impressive exhibit of the Tripolye, Chernyakhovo and other ancient Ukrainian cultures is on hand. The most popular displays are the ancient sarcophaguses and the rich collections of jewellery and other precious artefacts, some of which date back to 1000 B.C. The ensemble of the Egyptian antiquities is the third largest in the former Soviet Union. Due to the spooky atmosphere, locals are convinced that the place is haunted.