Museums of Russia: Museum of Moscow to hold festive events marking its 125th anniversary

On December 1, 2021, the Museum of Moscow celebrated its 125th anniversary. It was founded in 1896, and during this time, it has changed many names and locations. The institution was called the Museum of Municipal Economy, the Museum of Public Utilities, the Museum of the History and Reconstruction of Moscow, the Museum of Moscow History and, finally, the Museum of Moscow. However, with any name, it remained the main centre of knowledge of the city.

Today, the Museum of Moscow stores more than 790 thousand exhibits. They make up many collections that tell about the history of the capital and the everyday life of city residents. They include archaeological finds, paintings, graphic works, plans and maps, posters, postcards, photographs, documents, rare books, coins, furniture, metal, glass, porcelain, clothing, fabrics, and household items.

The museum keeps personal archives of dozens of Moscow scientists and historians. It includes over 300 private and thematic collections, family archives of famous Moscow merchant families - the Bakhrushins, the Syreishchikovs, the Naydenovs, the Vishnyakovs, the Shelaputins, the Sorokoumovskys. The museum collections contain items from the Stone Age to the present day. Their number constantly grows.

Marking its anniversary, the Museum of Moscow arranged a program of festive events that tell about the city in a new way. The first is an outdoor exhibition in the courtyard on Zubovsky Boulevard. It promotes unique artefacts associated with different stages of museum development. The exposition includes private belongings of its first director Peter Sytin (1885-1968) - a historian, ethnographer, teacher and author of articles and books on Moscow history. Telescopic glasses, pens, pencil holders and other everyday objects will help to feel the atmosphere of the past.

In December, marking the anniversary, the City Excursion Bureau of the Museum of Moscow conducts special excursions along the city streets and exhibition halls. Citizens and tourists have an opportunity to walk with Moscow historians along Teatralnaya Square, streets of Petrovka, Kuznetsky Most, Tverskaya Street and neighbouring lanes.