Museums of Moscow

The National Museum of Russian Fine Art, the State Tretyakov Gallery, is one of the largest museums in the world. Its collections embrace the period from the 10th to 20th century and all schools of Russian painting - from ancient icons to avant-guard. The Gallery treasures priceless collection of old Russian icons, paintings, sculptures and graphics.

One of the richest world collections of fine arts from the time immemorial to nowadays is treasured in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts that is favorably situated in the very center of Moscow, close to the Kremlin and Red Square. Nowadays it is the second, after the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, largest museum of foreign art in Russia.

The largest historic museum of Russia, the State Historical Museum, was established in 1872 on the initiative of the Russian scientific community. Articles and monuments representing the culture and the history of the multinational Russian State were brought to the new museum from all the regions of Russia.

The Kremlin is situated on the bank of the Moscow River. Its monumental walls and elegant towers, gilded domes of cathedrals and majestic palaces create the splendid architectural ensemble. Today on the territory of this large cultural and historic preserve there are several museums that treasure historic relics and priceless works of art.

The Museum of Moscow History that is one of the oldest Museums of the city was established on the initiative of Russian scientific community in 1896. The basis of the new Museum collection was formed with the exhibits of the pavilion "Moscow" at the All-Russian Artistic and Industrial exhibition, which was held in Nizhny Novgorod in 1896.

The idea of Vysotsky Museum foundation appeared in 1980, just after the poet's death in 1980. The Taganka Theater, where Vysotsky had worked as an actor, was overflowed with letters from ordinary people who offered the establishment of the exposition dedicated to the life and creativity of the outstanding poet and bard.

he State Museum of Vladimir Mayakovsky was opened in 1974 in the building where the poet lived and worked from 1919 to 1930. The basis of its collection was formed from the stocks of the Library-Museum named after Mayakovsky. In the museum, one wouldn't find traditional exhibition halls with glass show-cases and ranged exhibits.

The Paleontology Museum named after Yuri Orlov is reckoned among the world largest natural-science museums. It originates from the Kunstkammer established by Peter the Great in Saint Petersburg. The Kunstkammer's collection was comprised of all kind of rarities including teeth and bones of ancient creatures found in different parts of the world.

The All-Russian Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art that was established in 1981 became the first Russian museum with the extensive collection of ethnic arts and crafts as well as modern authors' hand-made masterpieces from all over Russia. The Museum exhibits the best works of Russian craftspeople that worked from the 16th to the 20th century.

The impressive collection of Oriental art is housed in the State Museum of Oriental Art. The Museum is located in the very center of Moscow. The pale yellow Corinthian-pillared building it occupies is the architectural monument of the early Russian classicism. The building was erected in 1821 by Italian architect D. Zhilyardi as a private mansion of Lunin family.

In the middle of the 20th century the Soviet authorities finally acknowledged Andrei Rublev to be an outstanding Russian painter and decreed to create the Museum-preserve of Early Russian Culture and Art. The Museum was to be established on the territory of St. Andronicus Monastery of the Savior where Rublev spent the last years of his life.

The Moscow House of Photography was founded in 1996. It became the first Russian museum fully and thoroughly representing the development and the present state of the photographic art in Russia. The unique Museum has chosen the unusual for Russian museums strategy of festivals and broad scale projects.

Lenin's Mausoleum, the monument and the burial-vault, is the compositional center of the Red Square in Moscow. In the Funeral Hall of the Mausoleum there is the crystal sarcophagus, which contains the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks party and the initiator of the Russian October revolution in 1917.

The Moscow Zoo is one of the largest in the world. The oldest zoo in Russia, established in 1864, passed a long way from a small zoological garden to the large scientific, educational and conservation institution. The Moscow Zoological garden was founded by the All-Russia Emperor Society for Acclimatization of Plants and Animals.

The International Centre-Museum by name of Nickolas Roerich was founded by Svetoslav Roerich as a public cultural and educational centre on the base of the unique heritage of his parents Nickolas and Helena Roerich. In 1990 the heritage was transferred from India to Russia as a gift. The Museum is situated in the very heart of Moscow at the ancient estate of the Lopukhins.