State Historical Museum
A museum on Red Square in Moscow whose collections trace the history of Russia from prehistoric times to the present.
Red Square: A historic public square in central Moscow, bordered by the Kremlin and major civic landmarks. The museum’s main building stands along the square’s northeastern edge.
Russian Empire: A multinational empire ruled by Russian monarchs from 1721 until the 1917 revolutions. The museum was founded under imperial rule and opened during the reign of Alexander III.
Museum exhibition: A curated presentation of objects and information for public interpretation. Exhibitions arrange the museum’s collections into accounts of different eras and themes.
Kremlin Armoury: A museum in the Moscow Kremlin displaying regalia, arms, ceremonial objects, and other treasures. It offers a neighboring collection with a narrower focus on court and state objects.
Historical memory: The ways societies remember, interpret, and transmit accounts of the past. National exhibitions influence which events and objects become prominent in public memory.
Moscow Kremlin: A fortified complex in central Moscow that serves as a historic seat of Russian power. The museum faces the Kremlin across Red Square.
Alexander III of Russia: Emperor of Russia from 1881 to 1894, known for conservative policies and promoting Russian national identity. His reign saw the museum’s public opening and its early imperial identity.
Museum conservation: The care and treatment of collections to slow deterioration and preserve their evidential value. Preserving historical objects is essential to their continued study and display.
Moscow Kremlin Museums: A group of museums based in the Moscow Kremlin, including the Armoury and cathedral museums. Their collections provide a nearby institutional counterpart to the State Historical Museum.
Museum studies: The interdisciplinary study of museums, their collections, institutions, and social roles. The museum offers a case for examining how institutions construct historical narratives.