Russian museums: The museum “Russia in the Great War” opens in the building of the Sovereign’s Martial Chamber in Tsarskoye Selo

August 4, 2014 in Tsarskoye Selo is held the opening ceremony of the Museum “Russia in the Great War." This is one of the largest and most important events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War. The first in modern Russia museum dedicated to this tragic period of history, will be located in the building of the sovereign's Martial Chamber conceived by Emperor Nicholas II as a pantheon of military glory. For visitors the Museum "Russia in the Great War" will begin its work on August 5.

The history of the museum began before the First World War.

In 1911, Elena Andreevna Tretyakova, the widow of Sergei Mikhailovich Tretyakov, the brother of the founder of the Tretyakov Gallery Pavel Mikhailovich, presented Emperor Nicholas II the collection of art materials and documents on the history of Russian wars, as well as the spoils of war. The Emperor ordered on the basis of this collection to create a museum to house which in Tsarskoye Selo was built "Sovereign’s Martial Chamber" implicit in the presence of Supreme May 3, 1913. It was designed as a pantheon of military glory of the Fatherland - a museum to store the spoils of war and historical documents that illustrate the success of Russia in the wars with the enemy since ancient times.

With the outbreak of the First World War it was decided to place in the Sovereign's Martial Chamber a gallery of Knights of St. George and present the trophies brought from the front. So gradually the Martial Chamber turned into a museum of the Great War.

In February 1917, the construction was completed on the entire complex of buildings and the exposition. People's Museum of the Great War of 1914-1917 opened its doors to visitors. Unfortunately, its work did not last long, and in 1918 the museum was closed. During the revolutionary achievements some of the exhibits of the museum have been taken out of the Tsarskoye Selo, dispersed through the public repositories, some destroyed.

In 2008 the building of the Martial Chamber was given to Tsarskoye Selo for the creation of a museum of the First World War.