Moscow Museums

The State Tretyakov Gallery

It is also known as the National Museum of Russian fine Arts. This museum owns the finest and greatest collection of Russian painting in the World. The museum’s collection is composed by around 130 000 art works amongst pictures and sculptures, which were created between XI and XX century. The museum was founded by the Muscovite merchant and industrialist “Pavel Mikhailovich Tretyakov” in 1856 and it was at the beginning only a personal collection; but, by 1892 when “Tetryakov” decided to donate his collection to the city; the gallery had already 2000 paintings, drawings and sculptures.

Now the museum works in two different buildings. The former gallery is situated at “Lavrushinskiy Pereulok” which has an exhibition of Russian art created between the XI and XIX centuries.Whereas the new building is situated at “Krymskiy” Val houses and there, it can find an art exhibition only with pieces created in the XX century by artists like “Malevich”, “Shagal”, “Popova” or “Filonov”. The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:30.

State Historical Museum

It is located in front to the Saint Basil’s Cathedral at western Red Square. This museum is the largest historic museum in Russia and was constructed between 1875 and 1881 by the architect Sherwood. Its exhibitions range from items that belonged to prehistoric tribes that inhabited Russia to actual items. The museum’s collection (composed by several millions of objects) includes many items acquired by members of the “Romanov” dynasty like fantastic thrones, many authentic uniforms, manuscripts and black-letter books, old Russian icons, Russian and foreign arming, works of smith craft, jewelry, glass and ceramics, national clothes, collection of old furniture from the private estates and many more. It is located at 1/2 Red Square near the metro station of “Okhotny Ryad” and opens from Wednesday to Monday from 11:00 to 19:00.

The Pushkin Fine Arts Museum

This museum saves the second most important collection of foreign art in Russia after the Saint Petesburg museum; it was opened in 1912 as the Museum of Fine Arts, but then it was named “Pushkin” museum in honor to the famous Russian poet “Alexander Pushkin”. Its collection includes art pieces from archaic time to the present day. Here you can find items from the ancient Egypt, European classic, medieval and renaissance works, as well as American art pieces. Besides, the museum hosts also many Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, like “Dejeuner sur l’herbe” of the French artist “Mane” and “Bathing in the Seine” of “Renoir” as well as several pictures of “Van Gogh” and “Gaugins”. The museum is located at 12, "Volkhonoka Street" near the metro station of “Kropotinskaya” and opens form Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 to 18:00.

The State Polytechnic Museum

This is one of the oldest technical museums in the world and exhibits the main Russian science achievements like the laboratory where the artificial rubber was created, the first periodic table made by “Mendeleiev” and the radio made by “Popov”. This museum was founded in 1872 in honor to the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of "Peter the Great" and the first Russian technical exhibition. The museum’s exposition occupies around 10500 square meters and is sorted chronologically and by departments like Geology and Mining, Metallurgy, Chemical technology, Engineering, Automation and Computers, etc. This wonder museum is located at 3/4 “Novaya Ploshad” entrance Nº1 near the metro station of “Lybyanka” and opens every day except Mondays from 10.00 to 18:00.

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

This museum was opened in 1981 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the space flight of Yuri Gagarin the first man in the space. This museum traces the history of Russian rocketry and the space exploration from 1920s to the present day. The museum is unique in its type and is situated inside the large monument to the “Conquerors of Space” which is 100 meters high and is made of titanium. Its exhibition includes the first satellites, the first dogs in the space like “Laika” and the journeys of the Russian cosmonauts, including videos presentations and pieces of video footage taken on various space missions into orbit. This museum is located at 111 “Prospekt Mira” and opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00.

The Central Museum of Armed Forces

Is one of the most impressive museums in Moscow and is one of the most complete in its type.  It was founded in 1919 by “Vladimir Lennin”. This museum is composed by 24 exhibition halls which show the history of the Russian Army and Navy. It highlights the participation of the Soviet Union and the red Army in the Second World War There are over 800 000  military items like tanks, MIG planes, ballistic missiles, etc. The museum opens from Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00 and is located at 2 “Ulitsa Sovetskoi Armii”. 

Tolstoy Estate Museum

This ancient literary museum was opened in 1921 in the building where the famous writer Leon Tolstoy spent the winter with his family at the end of the XIX century. This building was constructed by the architect “Grigoryev” at the beginning of the XIX century. This museum is a center for the preservation of the manuscripts, pictorial materials and books made by this fantastic writer. The building saves part of the original furniture that was used by Tolstoy, his family and his friends like “Chekhov”,”Gorky” or “Rakhmaninov”. The building is located at 21 “Ulitsa Lva Tolstovo” and opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 16:00.

Other great museums in Moscow are:

• Chekhov House Museum, dedicated to this great writer; it is located at 6 “Ulitsa Sadovaya-Kudrinskaya”.




• Dostoevsky Museum, dedicated to the life of this famous writer; it is located at 2 “Ulitsa Dostoevskovo”.




• Stanislavsky House Museum, present details about the actor’s life and his theatrical contributions; it is located at 6 “Leontyevsky Pereulok”.




• Metro Museum, dedicated to the history of this transportation system, which is one of the most luxury in the world; it is located at 36 “Ulitsa Khamovnichesky Val”, 3rd floor.




• Museum of the KGB, show the history of this legendary institution and his role in the world’s history; it is located at 21 “Tverskaya Ulitsa”.

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