Sightseeing

THE RUSSIAN ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM Founded at the end of the 19th century as a branch of the Russian Museum, the Museum of Ethnography boasts a unique collection of over half a million exhibits reflecting the life and culture of 150 peoples of Russia. One of the biggest museums of the kind in Europe, the State Russian Ethnographical Museum began to acquire its first collections from the mid-1890s as part of the Ethnographic Department of the Russian Museum. And in 1902-1913 a splendid mansion, adjoining the Mikhailovsky Palace, was erected to the architect V.Svinjin's project. One of the world's largest ethnographic museums was founded here by the emperor Nicholas II as execution of will and in honour of his father, emperor Alexander III, a fervent admirer of the domestic culture and owner of a wonderful collection of folk arts, and in 1934 it became an independent institution, which was renamed the State Museum of the Ethnography of the Peoples of the USSR in 1948; the museum acquired its current title in 1992. Dedicated to the culture and everyday life of the peoples of Russia, the museum collection, exhibited in the 24 halls, features not only tools, domestic items, folk costumes, utensils and objects of ritual presented in the form of lifesize models, carpets and wrought iron objects, religious wooden sculpture, but also houses belonging not only to big nations of Russia, but even of small nationalities with population of 100-200 people, constructed in the museum's premises and a unique photographic library and a scientific archive. The museum also boasts a Special Storeroom, containing a great variety of national ornaments, weaponry and objects, made of precious metals, pearl and precious and semiprecious stones, a collection of gold folk jewelry and other ritzy stuff. Open daily 10.00 - 17.00. Closed on Monday and on the last Friday of every month. Address: Inzhenernaya street, 4/1 Phone: 313-43-20. Metro Gostiny Dvor, Nevsky Prospect

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