200th Anniversary of Moscow Kremlin Museums

Portrait of Emperor Alexander I. Saint-Petersburg, 1801. Artist D.I.Evreinov

In 2006 Moscow Kremlin Museums celebrate the 200th Anniversary. The date of the museum's foundation is considered the 10th of March, 1806. This day Emperor Alexander I signed an order "On rules of administration and preservation of valuables of the Masters' and Armoury Chamber", which ended up the process began by Peter the Great - that of transforming of royal depositories,  storages and workshops into a museum. The Armoury Chamber was the first public museum in Moscow. Its activity made a bright contribution to the museum history in Russia.

View of the old building of the Armoury Chamber. P.A. Gerasimov. Mid XIXth century

In the Armoury Chamber. Artist N.Burdin. 1846

The Kremlin as seen from the Moscow River

In concequence of changes that took place uin the country in the early XXth century, by 1920-s, in the Moscow Kremlin territory there was formed a unique museum complex. Except the Armoury Chamber, it included  the Assumption, Archangel's and Annunciation Cathedrals, the Church of Laying of Our Lady's Holy Robe, the Ivan the Great Bell-Tower Complex and the XVIIth century Patriarch's Palace.
During all the 200 years'  history, the name and administration of Moscow Kremlin Museums have changed lots of times. However, its collection have always been  same unique and  the staff members' skill  level has always been high.

The Armoury Chamber

The museum have been always headed by outstanding people, such as prince Yu. B. Yusupov, head of Moscow administration, famous writer Michael Zagoskin, historician Sergey Soloviov. The museum activity was linked with Alexey Olenin,  chairman of the Academy of Arts, artist Fyodor Solntsev, historian Ivan Zabelin, foundationer of the Russian History Museum.

 

View of the Kremlin from the Large Stone Bridge
In October, 1991, the unique character of the Kremlin museum complex found official acknowledgement and was given the status of the State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve "The Moscow Kremlin" and was included to the list of particularly valuable objects of the Nation's heritage.
The 200th Anniversary of the FSI "The State Historical and Cultural Museum-Preserve "The Moscow Kremlin" will be celebrated with a large programm of various jubilee events.