Moscow Museums

Moscow Kremlin
Moscow Kremlin is an ancient town, a fortress, an active residence of power, a State museum. Cathedrals of Moscow Kremlin.

Armory Chamber
Armory Chamber of Moscow Kremlin is a Treasure - house of Russian tsars.

Historical Museum
Built in 1881, this is one of the biggest museums in Russia. The architects wanted the building to symbolize all the best from Russian traditional architecture.

Polytechnical Museum
On the south-east side of the square there is a huge building of Politechnical museum. It was built for about 30 years, from 1874 in old Russian style. There were many expositions and free lectures took part in it. So it was a kind of institute for poor people.

Diamond Fund
In the Diamond Fund's exposition, one can see Tzars regalia, the crown of the Russian Empire, Russian and foreign medals, huge gold and platinum bars, giant diamonds, numerous pieces of jewelry.

Central Museum of the Revolution
This is the best twentieth century museum in Moscow. Exhibits range from stones thrown at policemen during the 1905 Revolution to a complete and level headed account of the revolution and coups of the early 1990s.

Gorky Museum
A spectacular example of the style moderne complete with ceramic tiles and a cascading marble staircase, this was the home of Maxim Gorky from 1931-36 after he was persuaded by Stalin to return to Russia, but before he was allegedly poisoned by Yagoda, one of Stalin's henchmen.

Museum of Arts and Crafts
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.

Andrey Rublyov Museum of Early Russian Culture and Art
One of the best collections of icons belongs to The Andrei Rublev Museum of Early Russian Culture and Art (Andronyevskaya Square, 10, the "Ploshchad Ilyicha" Metro station, 278-1289, open from 11.00 to 17.00, except Wednesday and last Friday). On display are the icons of Moscow's school of the 15th to 16th centuries, sculptures of the 12th to 17th centuries, the copies of frescoes. The affiliate of the museum located at the Church of the Intercession at Fili (See Chapter "Churches and Monasteries”, open: 11.00-17.30, except weekends) displays the icons of the end of the 17th century painted by the Tsar's craftsmen.

Museum of Mayakovsky
The 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.

Museum of Moscow History
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

Museum of Oriental Art
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.

Museum of Vysotsky
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.

Paleontology Museum
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.

Andrei Sakharov Museum and Community Center
Located in a handsome park across the Garden Ring from the Andrei Sakharov Archives, the museum is a memorial to human rights activist and Nobel Laureate, Andrei Sakharov. It is funded by several Russian and U.S. based foundations dedicated to the development of civil society in Russia and promotes Sakharov's ideals of tolerance, democracy, and civil liberties.

Aksakov Museum
Exhibitions and memorabilia recounting the life and works of the writer and literary critic, Sergey Aksakov, in the 18th century Empire style building where he lived.

Chekhov House Museum
Details the life and works of the prolific and highly regarded Russian dramatist and master of the modern short story, Anton Chekhov, through a series of exhibits housed in one of the writer's former residences.

Dostoevsky Museum
Exhibitions charting the dramatic life of one of Russia's most famous writers, housed in the apartment where the young Dostoevsky spent much of his underprivileged childhood.

Lermontov House Museum
Exhibition of original manuscripts, artwork and correspondence charting the life and career of the famous Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov in the carefully preserved wooden house, where he lived between 1829 and 1832.

Meyerhold Apartment Museum
Exhibits all manner of personal belongings, correspondence, scripts, set designs and photographs concerning the life and work of Moscow's pioneering avant-garde theatrical director, producer and actor, Vsevolod Meyerhold.

Ostrovsky Estate and Museum
Dedicated to the life and work of the Muscovite playwright, who is generally considered to be the greatest representative of the Russian Realist literary period and whose dramatic works were all premiered under the supervision of the playwright himself in Moscow's Maly Theater.