Historical Museum in Moscow – history, photo, description, how to get there, map

The State Historical Museum is the brightest diamond among the keepers of the cultural and historical heritage of Russia. Located in the heart of the capital, it inevitably attracts the attention of tourists with its unusual appearance – most of all, the building resembles an old Slavic tower. Tens of thousands of people visit the museum‘s expositions every day, and it will take more than twenty days to view less than a fifth of the exhibits, even if only briefly. Appreciating Russian art and not visiting the historical museum is the greatest crime.

History of creation

On the site of a modern facility, the building of the Zemsky order was once located. The historically valuable building was demolished, having previously stipulated that the new building must be kept in the traditions of the 17th century and correlated with the architectural ensemble of Red Square. The initial project was prepared by Vladimir Sherwood and Alexey Semyonov, but the final touches were put on by Alexander Popov. In general, construction took more than seven years, and the grand opening took place in 1883.

During the Soviet period, the museum's exposition policy abruptly took a course towards promoting communism. The facade of the building was simplified by removing the images of eagles and lions, the interior decoration was “cleaned up”, destroying the paintings and details reminiscent of royal power. The museum was even going to be demolished and a communist monument built in its place, but, fortunately, the project was never approved. Having survived until the collapse of the USSR, in 1991 the object was recognized as especially valuable in terms of cultural heritage.

The administration of the museum was transferred to the neighboring building, which once belonged to the capital's Duma, it was decided to restore the halls and the facade in accordance with the original plan of the architects. The work was completed in 1997, and 10 years later the object was recognized as a “symbol of science.” At the moment, there are approximately 4.5 million exhibits on its territory.

Hall interiors

The interior of the museum is a unique combination of history and modern technology. The restoration of the 1990s returned the halls to their original appearance: the walls and ceilings are hand-painted, some of the floors are tiled with mosaics, and native Russian motifs are clearly traced in the embroidery of the tapestries. The color palette, for the most part, is represented by two colors: red, or burgundy, and gold.

Having restored the unique design, the administration did not forget about the technological improvement. The expositions are equipped with monitors with touchscreens, which allows you to get additional knowledge about the items presented. For example, if there are books or manuscripts under the glass, they can be read and scrolled through on the screen. Additional information desks have been installed throughout the building, an audio guide system has been introduced, and toilets have been reinstalled and are now accessible to people with disabilities.

Exhibits

The three-story structure houses more than four million historical treasures. Having arranged an excursion from the second floor to the third, you can plunge headlong into the past, observing the formation of the Russian state since the time of primitive society. The permanent exhibition is represented by ancient scrolls, books, precious metals, photographs, drawings, household items, rooms fully decorated in accordance with a certain historical era, and much more. Visitors are given a rare chance to see many unique items such as:

The royal state seal is the only item whose imprint could confirm the authenticity of the document. The first mention of seals dates back to the tenth century, when an agreement was concluded between Russia and the Byzantine state. The museum collection includes a seal of Peter with the image of a double-headed eagle.

Blau's globe is a unique cartographic item brought to Russia at the insistence of the famous lover of the West, Peter I. Initially, it was used to study the world map, and then it was placed in the Kunstkamera.

Napoleon's saber, the weapon of the great French emperor, came to Russia with the help of Count Shuvalov, who accompanied the Frenchman to the island of Elba. In the Civil War, it was even used in combat, but later transferred to a museum.

The Order of St. George A. V. Suvorov is a remarkable award presented to the outstanding Russian commander by Tsarina Catherine II herself.

Feather of Alexander II – What can be surprising in such an ordinary subject? And the fact that it was with this pen that the emperor signed the journal of the meeting at which the decision was made to abolish serfdom.

Birch bark letters are the first evidence of writing in Russia: official documents, household notes and even children's drawings are scrawled on fragments of tree bark.

The fan of Natalia Goncharova is a famous beauty and the wife of the great writer A.S. Pushkina was very jealous of her wardrobe, carefully choosing outfits and accessories. The fan presented by the museum is a delightful piece of fashionable art, made of tortoiseshell and decorated with an exquisite tassel.

The museum collection is replenished and modernized from year to year. In particular, 2016 turned out to be rich in peasant household items, such as chests and spinning wheels, as well as historically valuable documents from the early twentieth century.