Moscow Museums
Some of us prefer the hands-on action of a site seeing tour, but others would
rather browse the halls of a museum or building dedicated to collecting artifacts
or depicting the history of a country or place. Moscow is certainly no exception,
and the city is packed full of museums dedicated to artists, history, architecture,
the military, and more. With museums within walking distance of any Moscow
hotel or major square, you're sure to find something to suit your tastes.
Dostoevsky Museum
The Dostoevsky
Museum is dedicated to depicting the life of the famous Russian writer.
As he spent the better part of his life fascinated by literature, it is no surprise
that he eventually turned to writing. His first very successful literary work
was a novella known as "Poor Folk," written in 1846. Dostoevsky's life was not
easy - his father was an alcoholic, he spent time in prison, participated in
a mock execution, and was a terrible gambler. The museum can be found in his
childhood home.
Address: 191002, Kuznechny Pereulok 5/2
Metro: Vladimirskaya / Dostoyevskaya
Telephone: +7 (812) 311-4031, +7 (812) 169-6950
Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 6pm
Closed: Monday and the last Wednesday of the month
State Historical Museum
The State Historical Museum is an astoundingly bright redbrick building situated
at the west end of the Red Square. Opened in 1894, the museum tells the tale
of the history of Russia as it developed throughout time. Features include a
longboat that dates back at least 5,000 years and a room dedicated to explaining
and exploring Russia's conversion to Christianity.
Address: 1, Red Square, Moscow, 103012, Russia
Tel: +7 (495) 292-40-19
Metro: Metro Stations Okhotny Ryad, Ploshad Revolutsii, Teatralnaya Ploshad
Politechnical Museum
The Politechnical Museum features an incredible variety of artifacts documenting the development of science, technology, and industry throughout Russia. Housed within the large building are more than 20,000 individual artifacts, models, and experiments. The museum was developed in effort to promote awareness regarding the fields of science and technology. It is impossible to walk in and out of this museum without learning something new in the process.
Address: Novaya Ploshad 3/4, entrance 1, Moscow 121170
Tel: (095) 921-5294
(095) 925-0614
(095) 923-0756
Metro: Kitai Gorod, Lubyanka
Open: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 6pm, closed Monday and the last Thursday of the
month
Bakhrushin Theater Museum
The Bakrushin Theater Museum was established in 1894 by Alexei Bakrushin. The museum houses a wide variety of artifacts that document the development of the opera, ballet, and theatre in Moscow. You'll a collection of rare manuscripts, models of scenery, costumes, puppets, posters, and more. Perhaps one of the most unique exhibits is the antique collection of theatrical audio recordings.
Address: Ulitsa Bakhrushina 31/12, Moscow 113054
Tel: (095) 953-4848
(095) 953-4720
Metro: Pavletskaya
Open: Wednesday - Sunday 12noon - 7pm, closed Tuesday and the last Monday of
the month
Lenin's Mausoleum
We hesitate to say that Lenin's Mausoleum is popular, but it's certainly unique. Lenin's body is entombed here, though rumor has it that his body may eventually be transferred to a final resting place in the ground. While the mausoleum itself is astounding architecturally, residents of Moscow find it strange to walk past the burial place of a long-hated communist leader. Tourists simply visiting from their Moscow apartments, however, recognize the historical significance and flock to the site daily, seemingly unaware of the awkward irony.
Address: Krasnaya Ploshad, Moscow
Tel: (095) 923-5527
Metro: Ploshad Revolutsii, Teatralnay
Open: Tuesday - Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 1pm, closed Monday and
Friday
Moscow features a plethora of historic and educational museums. Whether you
want to learn about the arts, archeology, history, or the government, you're
bound to find at least one museum featuring the exhibits you desire. If you
can't find a suitable museum, you simply aren't looking hard enough!
Additional Moscow Museums: