The Polytechnical Museum opened in Moscow

November 30 (December 12) 1872, Moscow hosted the opening of the Polytechnical Museum - one of the oldest and largest science and technical museums in the world.

The first ideas to create a scientific and educational museum appeared in the 1860s and were related to the creation in 1863 of the Imperial Society of Devotees of Natural Science, Anthropology and Geography under the Moscow University. In 1864, on the initiative of the members of the Society – G. E. Shchurovsky, A. P. Bogdanov, A. Yu. Davidov and N. K. Zenger was established a library, which later became known as the Central Polytechnic Library and became the main repository of materials on the history of science and technology.

Soon, the idea of creating a new scientific and educational center was widely supported by both the scientific intelligentsia and authorities. In 1871, the Moscow City Council allocated 500, 000 rubles foe the foundation of the museum and the construction of the building to house it, and a year later the upon the emperor’s order was created a Special Committee to arrange the new institution. Honorary chairman of the Committee was the Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolayevich. The Committee included Governor General of Moscow V. A. Dolgorukov, Moscow Mayor I. A. Lyamin and many prominent members of the scientific community in Moscow and Russia. Profile of the museum was defined as a technical-industrial, and the main aim was to promote the dissemination of technical knowledge among the masses. The basis for the museum had served the funds of Polytechnic exhibition timed to the 200th anniversary of the birth of Peter I which was held in Moscow from May 30 (June 11) to 1 (13) October 1872. After the end of the exhibition the exhibits were moved to a temporary building on the Prechistenka str., and November 30 (December 12) the Polytechnical Museum first opened to the public.

In the spring of 1875 on the New Square began the construction of the permanent building for the museum, designed by architect I. A. Monigetti. Two years later, the collections were moved to the new location. Soon, thanks to active participation of members of the Society, the enrichment of its collections by numerous exhibits, as well as to the holding of numerous public lectures, courses and other activities the Polytechnical Museums became one of the most popular and accessible in Moscow. In 1907, in the left wing of the museum was opened the Grand auditorium, which soon became the main lecture hall of Moscow. An important role in the popularity of the museum played the contribution in it of many prominent scientists: P. N. Lebedev, K. A. Timiryazev, N. E. Zhukovsky, A. G. Stoletov, S. A. Chaplygin and others. The best representatives of both national and foreign science regularly delivered their reports and lectures at the museum.

In the first decades of the 20th century the Polytechnical Museum became the center not only of scientific knowledge, but also a major cultural and educational area. In the Grand auditorium performed many great writers and poets - representatives of the Silver Age. In 1950-1960s public speeches of R. Rozhdestvensky, A. Voznesensky, B. Okudzhava and B. Akhmadulina become a symbol of the "thaw" and the movement "of the sixties."

Currently the Polytechnical Museum is the largest technical museum in Russia. It holds more than 170, 000 exhibits, about 100 museum collections. The Museum Research Library (Central Polytechnic) has more than 3 million books and publications.

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