Story. Zoological Museum of Moscow State University

At the Russian Academy of Sciences there is a Zoological Museum, which is the largest in our country both in terms of territory and in terms of the volume of funds. Second place is firmly held by a similar institution at Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum is not one of the ten largest similar institutions in the world.

Famous philanthropists of Russia

The story of its creation is as follows. In 1802, the state issued an appeal for donations for education. Among the first to respond was the learned naturalist and philanthropist Pavel Grigorievich Demidov (1739-1821), a descendant of a famous dynasty. His ascetic activity was very extensive - at his own expense, in 1803 he opened a school of higher sciences, which bore his name until 1919. At the same time, he donates funds in the amount of 100,000 rubles, an extensive library and the natural science collection he collected while traveling around the world to the future Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum will be created thanks to these donations. In addition, in 1805, P. G. Demidov transferred the Mints office to Moscow University, which contained the richest collections (several thousand) of medals and coins. These treasures subsequently formed the main fund of the “cabinet of natural history” formed earlier, in 1791.

Professional approach

In 1755, by decree of the Empress, the Imperial Moscow University - MSU was founded. The Zoological Museum is 36 years younger, which does not prevent it from being considered one of the oldest natural science organizations. He turned 215 years old.

After the funds of the “cabinet of natural history” were significantly replenished through the efforts of philanthropist P. G. Demidov, the need arose to systematize them. This important task was entrusted to the already well-established (he compiled an inventory of a similar office in Paris) Russian naturalist G.I. Fischer (full name - Grigory Ivanovich (Johann Gottgelf, Gotthelf) Fischer von Waldheim, years of life - 1771-1853). A student and follower of the author of the dissertation “On the Respiration of Animals,” G. I. Fischer rejected the offer of the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, which invited him to systematize his “cabinet of natural history,” and remained in Moscow, at the future Moscow State University. The Zoological Museum was created through his efforts.

Ascetic activity

In 1806-1807, he carried out the first inventory of all collections, including coins and medals. As you know, in 1812 Moscow burned. A lot of buildings were destroyed in this fire; the priceless collections of the future Zoological Museum were almost completely destroyed. And the Russian patriot Grigory Ivanovich Fischer, who managed to save part of the conchological collection (shells and mollusks) during the fire, began to restore the “office”, transferring his own collections, collections and library to it. Then, using his personal authority and fame in scientific circles, he turned to naturalists and curators of private collections with a request for help in restoring the lost museum, the revival of which could be discussed already in 1814. The second inventory, carried out by G.I. Fisher, was completed in 1822, and its data were published. Simultaneously with the systematization of funds, the zoological collection was allocated, and a new museum at the university was created only on its basis. By 1830, thanks to the selfless activity of G.I. Fisher, the number of exhibits reached 25 thousand units.

Necessary reconstruction

The next improvement was carried out already in 1860. Then all the museum’s funds were divided into educational, scientific and exhibition. For visitors, the future Zoological Museum of Moscow State University named after. Lomonosov opened in 1866. Of course, throughout the years of its existence it developed dynamically, and by the end of the century the premises allocated for it became cramped. And therefore, in 1989-1902, a new specialized three-story building was built for the museum according to the design of the academician, hereditary architect K. M. Bykovsky, at that time the chief architect of Moscow University. He built university buildings on Bolshaya Nikitskaya, in addition to the Zoological Museum, K. M. Bykovsky erected a library and buildings of several faculties.

A beautiful building, made in a classical style, located in the very heart of the capital. The nearest metro stations are Biblioteka im. Lenin" and "Okhotny Ryad". The museum moved into it from the old building on Mokhovaya. After the move, the museum became public only in 1911.

In 1930, the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University in Moscow was given to the Faculty of Biology. A serious reorganization took place in the 90s of the last century. After all the ordeals, the museum acquires independent status. Today its scientific funds reach several million units.

It is visited by up to 150,000 people a year, the number of excursions conducted during the same time reaches 1,700. More refined and extensive information on each type of scientific collections is widely available. Three well-equipped observation rooms are given to visitors - two on the first floor, one (Bone Hall) on the second. All collections are arranged according to species proximity, from protozoa to vertebrates.

Serious scientific research

The Research Zoological Museum of Moscow State University carries out serious work - it studies and systematizes knowledge about animals in general, and modern ones in particular. Therefore, out of the available 10 million exhibits, only 8 are exhibited, among which there are unique representatives of the world fauna, for example, the largest and heaviest Goliath beetle and hundreds of other one-of-a-kind specimens. It is not surprising that Muscovites begin to visit this museum at a very young age - they come here with one-year-old children and are satisfied with the excursion. The Zoological Museum, about which most people have the most positive reviews, is really very good, keeps up with the times, providing all the “tricks” that can attract and interest the largest possible number of visitors. And the tour guides here are extraordinary people. But always, when visiting any museum in the world, there will be people who think that the guides speak quietly and the exhibits are covered with dust. The photo shows that this is not the case.

Ticket prices, reviews, interesting facts

You can see the colorfulness and high level of the collections by visiting the museum. The ticket price is only 100 rubles for a child in an excursion group of at least 20 people. For an adult with excursion service - 250 rubles, without excursion - 200. There is a flexible system of benefits, free days for special categories of citizens and one free night a year.

Periodic exhibitions are very interesting. Some visitors buy tickets in advance with prepayment. It remains to add a few interesting facts - for some time Marina Tsvetaeva lived in the apartment of Professor A.N. Severtsev, located in the building of the museum, which was the founder of the evolutionary morphology of animals. And he himself served as the prototype of the hero of “Fatal Eggs” by M. A. Bulgakov.

The State Zoological Museum of Moscow State University on Bolshaya Nikitskaya is the largest exhibition center in the capital.

It gives you the opportunity to appreciate how diverse the animal world is - even on the bas-reliefs on the façade there are images of animals, and the museum’s logo is a muskrat animal. This is an amazing building, full of the most amazing specimens of the fauna of our planet. I can’t even describe what it’s like to be in such a place... It’s better to see with your own eyes.

The building is located in the city center. Official information can be found on the museum website.

In contact with

History of origin

It was founded in 1791. At first, at the capital’s university there was a small office where natural history was studied. In fact, a small exhibition was created here a third of a century later, and it was called the “mineralogy cabinet.”

But when biological specimens were presented among the exhibition specimens, they were used to create a natural history cabinet. The head of the department was Ivan Andreevich Sibirsky.

It is important to know: P.G. made a great contribution to the formation of exhibits. Demidov, who at the beginning of the 19th century donated magnificent exhibits and a library to the center.

The first inventory of the new property dates back to 1806-1807. But a fire in 1812 caused great damage to the complex, its property was almost destroyed.

G.I. Fisher began active restoration; he attracted a large number of collectors and naturalists, and after some time the fund consisted of six thousand exhibits. And six years later, the center’s property doubled.

By the beginning of the 30s. In the 19th century, the collection volume consisted of 25 thousand items. The building on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The project for it was developed by K.M. Bykovsky. And by the 30s. last century, the institution was transferred to the Biological Faculty of Moscow State University.

Exhibitions

The exhibition in this case represents almost ten thousand copies. It begins with single-celled organisms, shown through artificial modeling, and ends with large reptiles and bison.

The main exhibition provides an opportunity to get acquainted with animals from all over the world and is organized according to class method (starting from the protozoa and gradually moving to the order of vertebrates).

The lower hall, located on the 1st floor, displays a wide variety of animals. Visitors can see here both a single-celled organism and a large reptile.

The number of exhibits is so huge that you could spend several days exploring. The 2nd floor is occupied by the upper hall, which is completely “populated” by birds and mammals. There is also a Bone Hall here. The exhibition in this case provides an overview of the animals from the inside. Visitors here can see:

• mammoth skeleton;
• fake rhinoceros;
• fake elephant;
• fake hippopotamus;
• stuffed crocodile and boa constrictor.

For visitors who want to learn more about animals, the staff of the establishment organizes lectures. They are carried out taking into account children's age characteristics.

On weekends, fascinating lectures for children and parents are given by the Biolektorium. The lobby and exhibition spaces display paintings by famous animal painters. There are works here:

• V.A. Vatagina;
• N.N. Kondakova and others.

What interesting things you should know about the zoo museum:

• The symbol of the museum is the Russian muskrat, listed in the Red Book of Russia. She is depicted on the emblem;
• The entomology department has a collection of 4 million insect specimens;

• In addition to lectures, the institution’s staff conduct interactive classes for children of different age groups and organize children’s birthday parties;
• Every Saturday and Sunday “Biolectory” holds lectures for parents with children aged five years and older. The features and secrets of biology are presented here in an easy, relaxed manner;
• The museum has a “Scientific Terrarium” that introduces visitors to the peculiarities of the life of reptiles. The opening hours of the “Scientific Terrarium” are from 11.00 to 17.00 on weekends. You will need a separate ticket to visit it. The price of such a ticket includes not only an exciting narrative, but also the opportunity to hold rare animals in your hands;

Interesting fact: at the end of the last century, the institution was given the name Research Zoological Museum of Lomonosov Moscow State University. After numerous changes of status, this name is still valid.

• A youth club was organized for high school and college students; it is based on the original development of researcher E. Dunaev.

Address

The exhibition complex is located at the address: Moscow, Bolshaya Nikitskaya street, building 6. It is not difficult to find. It is located directly in the center of the capital.

Is it difficult to reach by public transport? Not at all - having taken the metro to the Library named after. Lenin" or "Okhotny Ryad", you need to head to house No. 6 on Bolshaya Nikitskaya Street (this is the former Herzen Street). The location you are looking for is located nearby and can be reached in less than ten minutes.

Operating mode

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., it is open to visitors. Mondays only - days off. The last Tuesday of the month is also non-working.

Ticket prices

For adult visitors, the ticket price is 200 rubles. For school-age children, students and pensioners there is a discounted price of 50 rubles.

Children under seven years of age have the opportunity to visit exhibitions without tickets. This is also allowed for persons belonging to preferential categories.

If you come with the whole family or a group, you can book an excursion. For a group of 7 people it will cost 1,500 rubles.

If you arrive without a group, but want to ask for a guide, then just purchase a ticket for 250 rubles. for an adult and 100 rub. for a child and join any large excursion group.

Visitor reviews

The fact that this place is truly very interesting is evidenced by numerous positive reviews from visitors. Here are some of them:

• “I’ve lived in Moscow for almost 50 years, but this was my first time visiting the zoo museum. And I was pleasantly surprised. Everything turned out to be very educational. I recommend visiting, it won’t be a waste of time” Alexander, 48 years old, Moscow;
• “I went to the exhibition on the advice of friends, and did not regret it at all. The exposition turned out to be simply unique. Allowed to take free photos” Anastasia, 45 years old, Reutov;

• “I brought my seven-year-old daughter to the Zoological Institute. To make the excursion more interesting, we hired a guide. The child received a lot of impressions, especially impressed by the exhibition of animal skeletons” Lydia, 36 years old, Balashikha;
• “We came to get acquainted with zoology with our three children (9, 7 and 5 years old), we left the car in the parking lot. The establishment pleased me with its excellent exhibits and cleanliness. The whole family had great fun, the children were delighted with the starfish, the she-wolf with her cubs, the squirrel and the big sea turtle.” Evgeniy and Svetlana, Yegoryevsk, Moscow region;
• “The zoo museum has an exhibition of sea mollusks, and my son is very interested in them. We can say that we came for this exhibition. Immediately on the spot we became interested in other exhibits and had a pleasant time. All the information turned out to be informative and interesting. The staff here is very well-mannered and polite. It turns out that on Sundays they hold special classes for schoolchildren, you should definitely attend these lectures.” Angelina, 36 years old, Moscow.

What excursions are held at the Zoological Museum, see the following video.

By Decree of the President of the RSFSR dated December 18, 1991 N 294, the museum was declared a particularly valuable object of cultural heritage of the country

Television program (Russia, 2007).
Director Evgeny Khmelev.
Artistic director Lev Nikolaev.

Olesya Semenova
“The façade of the Polytechnic Museum is beautiful...”
(in abbreviation, in full - according to the title-link)
"Our Heritage" No. 99 2011

A museum building is not just the “outer shell of an institution,” it is its face, which reflects individual characteristics and distinguishes it from many other similar institutions; it begins the visitor’s contact with the museum; it in itself is the most important exhibit, especially in a museum like the Polytechnic.

The central facade of the Polytechnic Museum with the southern and northern wings. Drawing by I.A. Monighetti.
Archives of the Polytechnic Museum

The Polytechnic building is one of the notable buildings in the very center of Moscow, is an architectural monument, and is mentioned in many architectural dictionaries, reference books, monographs, including in connection with the names of the architects who took part in its design or construction.

Even before the opening of the Polytechnic Exhibition, the IOLEAiE Committee (Imperial Society of Lovers of Natural History, Anthropology and Ethnography) considered some options for locating the future museum: on the site of the former Mining Administration building on Vozdvizhenka, on the university courtyard opposite the Manege, on Theater Square.

The resolution of the issue accelerated when it was submitted for discussion to the Moscow Duma. According to the Duma commission, “the area intended for such an institution as a museum must meet two conditions: firstly, it should not be remote from the city center for the convenience of visiting it by the public, and secondly, it should be extensive enough for possibilities for expanding the museum in the future...". Lubyanka Square, “having a significant extent and close to the central parts of the city,” was proposed as such an area.

On February 8, 1872, a decision was made to gratuitously cede the territory on Lubyanka Square necessary for the construction of the building. It was also decided to allocate from the state treasury from 400 to 500 thousand rubles for the future museum.

Initially, the idea of ​​a monumental, multi-story building that could constantly grow and expand, and in its architecture and style would serve as a decoration of the capital, a monument to the century, seemed attractive. Then, based on the proposal of the President of IOLEAiE, Professor A.P. Bogdanov, it was decided to divide the museum fund into two parts, and for the natural history part, to arrange pavilions in the first Alexander Garden. The museum organization committee managed to obtain the territory in the Alexander Gardens at its disposal; designs for buildings were drawn up for the zoological, agricultural and other “natural” departments of the museum, but a lack of funds did not allow these plans to be implemented. In 1897, the museum returned the territory in the Alexander Garden to the Palace Department.

On June 10, 1874, the Moscow City Duma transferred to the Committee 2504 square fathoms of land along the stone wall of Kitay-Gorod, between Lubyanka Square and the Ilyinsky Gate. Thus, the question regarding the location for the future museum building was resolved.

Due to problems, primarily with financing, construction took place in three stages. The volumetric-spatial structure of the building was formed over thirty years.

The central building of the museum. Photograph from the late 19th century.
Archives of the Polytechnic Museum

In 1877, the central building was built, ten years later the construction of the southern wing began, and thirty-three years after the start of construction, work on the construction of the right wing was completed.

South facade of the museum. View from Ilyinskaya Square. Lithograph of the early twentieth century.
Archives of the Polytechnic Museum

As a result, while the general compositional solution of the building was preserved, adopted in the original project of I.A. Monighetti, during the construction process stylistic changes arose in the execution of its component parts. The right side of the building, built in the same seemingly “Russian style” traditions, acquires new features - the compositional elements of the facade are “stretched”, decorative elements are reduced, and the floor levels are shifted. The left part is a striking example of the Art Nouveau style in its national version. The asymmetrical composition of the side facades emphasizes the dominant importance of the central building, and the three-part northern facade with a protruding attic reveals the dominant position of the Polytechnic in relation to the surrounding buildings and adequately closes Lubyanka Square from the south.

On September 9 (September 22, new style), 1904, a short message flashed in the newspaper that “... the foundation stone of the left wing of the Polytechnic Museum building, erected by engineer G.I. Makaev, took place...” with a large audience. In addition to the Bolshoi premises, on the third floor there were two more isolated classrooms for 200 people, the so-called “Small Audiences,” as well as chemical and physical laboratories. On the top floor there was a meteorological station. A physiological greenhouse was placed in a glass lantern on the roof. All this is “for the organization of educational lectures.” Construction lasted until 1908. According to G.E. Medvedeva, other buildings in which “a genuine laboratory with a fully assembled furnishing complex” would be preserved<имеется в виду лаборатория при химической аудитории XIX века, где готовились демонстрационные реактивы и приборы>, - are not known to us"

A two-story auditorium, equipped with a ventilation system, covered with a flat ceiling without a single intermediate support, with a light lantern in the center, was built according to the design and under the supervision of engineer A.A. Semenov, and the creation was immediately praised. Although the basic engineering and architectural plan conceived by the author of the project has remained the same to this day, since 1948 the interiors of the Great Auditorium have been constantly changing. Previously, instead of the current chairs, there were birch benches; on the stage, behind the lecturer's podium, there was a glass chamber (fume hood) for chemical experiments, and above it a table depicting Mendeleev's Periodic Table of Elements. In the center of the ceiling there was a glazed space measuring 8x4 meters, through which daylight fell. The total area of ​​the Auditorium was 122.8 square fathoms, it had 842 numbered and 60 unnumbered seats. The cost of complete equipment was 50,000 rubles. The first lecture was given on October 11, 1907 by the People's University Society.

Listeners immediately appreciated the impeccable acoustics, the calculations of which were carried out by A.A. Semenov. Professor D.N. Anuchin noted in a report for 1910 that “the new Great Auditorium of the Polytechnic Museum is the best auditorium in Moscow.” The Committee of the Polytechnic Museum decided in honor of the authors of the project to place a memorial plaque in the auditorium with the inscription: “The auditorium was built in 1907-1908 according to the design and under the supervision of engineer Anatoly Aleksandrovich Semenov, with the close cooperation of the architect I.P. Mashkov, Z.I. Ivanov and communications engineer N.A. Alekseev.” For his work on the construction of the Great Auditorium of the Polytechnic Museum, he was awarded the rank of Actual State Councilor. Semenov also headed the specially created Commission of the Polytechnic Museum, which monitored the construction of the left wing.

Alas, neither this memorial plaque nor the memory of Actual State Councilor Semenov has been preserved. Meanwhile, the contribution of this military engineer to the creation of the Polytechnic Museum and, as we will see later, the museum business in Moscow in general is enormous.

The names of architects are usually indicated in guidebooks and specialized literature, but the engineers who created architectural monuments along with them are not always remembered. Alexey Semenov(1841-1917) was born in the Vyatka province, first studied at the Konstantinovsky Military School, then completed a first-class course at the Nikolaev Engineering Academy, and later worked in the engineering department of the Moscow Military District. During the first seven years, he received three awards: the Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd and 2nd degrees, and the Order of St. Anne, 3rd class. In the summer of 1871, he retired and took part in organizing the Sevastopol department of the Polytechnic Exhibition. Memories of the Crimean War of 1853-1856 were then fresh, and the idea arose “to present as complete a picture as possible of the glorious defense of Sevastopol, both in combat and in military-sanitary terms, and thereby spread among the people a correct understanding of that memorable era.” The pavilion of the Sevastopol department was not inferior to the Marine one and was located in the Kremlin on the square in front of the Nikolaevsky Palace. Back in December 1871, the main organizer of the department, N.I. Chepelevsky, put forward the idea of ​​​​creating a permanent repository for the materials collected for the Sevastopol department - the Russian National Museum: “This temple, erected for the glory of the centuries-old life of the Russian people,” he wrote in a report presented to the Tsarevich, “I must collect together from all over the Russian land the treasured shrines of the people, monuments and documents of the entire Russian state, depict in images and paintings the names of great ascetics and figures and the most remarkable events.” And already on February 9, 1872, the emperor ordered the construction of one in Moscow, which became the Historical Museum. Architect V.O. Sherwood, according to whose design the building was erected, took A.A. Semenov as a co-author “on the technical side.” Sherwood believed that “the moment of clear national consciousness is coming, and our entire future depends on this moment. The people need a clearly embodied image of their own feelings, they need an ideal to strive for.” The building of the Historical Museum had to meet this historical need. “We need to build in Russia the Russian way!”

A.A. Semenov actively participated in this construction. His later works: the temple in the name of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk in Sokolnichiya Grove (1875, reconstruction; the original unpreserved design of P.P. Zykov); Petrovsko-Alexandrovsky boarding house-shelter for the nobility (since 1945 - N.N. Burdenko Research Institute of Neurosurgery); a residential building (ibid.) for doctors and teachers with an infirmary; the main building (ibid.) with a temple in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (all these buildings are from the early 1900s) and many others.

In addition to the block of premises belonging to the Great Auditorium (entrance, lobby, stairs, “changing rooms”), the entire remaining area of ​​the wing was occupied by retail premises. Along the transverse axis connecting Bolshoy Lubyansky and Kitaisky passages, a two-story passage was built, that is, display cases and windows of the first and mezzanine floors overlooked it. There was free access from the passage to both passages. However, according to the terms of development of the entire building complex, the basement, first and mezzanine floors were rented out for retail space.

Northern façade of the Polytechnic Museum

The street facades of the Polytechnic Museum have retained their original decor and have survived to this day only with minor changes due to the liquidation of retail premises.

Detail of the central façade

Soviet-era lanterns that fit into the appearance of the northern façade

Initial studies of the color scheme of the facades showed that they were not monochrome as they are today, and the wall surfaces were a combination of white and ocher colors. Experts believe that a more complex coloring, characteristic of both the Art Nouveau and eclectic eras, is also possible. On the façade of the northern wing, in three archivolts, monumental painting, damaged by time, but strengthened and preserved, is visible. Researchers attribute its preliminary design to the architect Prince G.I. Makaev, who, simultaneously with the design, founded a foundation with whose funds the wing was built.

Fresco triptych in the archivolts of the northern façade

The triptych was made using the fresco technique, which, generally speaking, is characteristic of the Art Nouveau era, but was not adopted in Moscow: here majolica was more often used in facades. So the fresco on the facade of the northern wing of the Polytechnic is a rare monument.

Watercolor sketches of these frescoes without the author's signature are kept in the department of written sources of the Polytechnic Museum. They symbolize the poetics of human labor in the images of a peasant plowing a field and two workers in a forge, as well as knowledge, which is personified by a book in the hands of a child in a family group against the backdrop of the rays of the rising sun. With a certain probability, it can be argued that the artist Ilya Pavlovich Mashkov, brother of the architect Ivan Pavlovich Mashkov, who participated in the design of the Great Auditorium, took part in the creation of the frescoes.

The main staircase occupies an important place in the interior decoration of the museum. Initially, it “was supposed to consist of four marches leading only to the 1st floor<аж>, and from 2 floor<ажа>there are two special stairs to the top one, but due to unforeseen circumstances this staircase was replaced by a more luxurious one, but not very comfortable for walking.” Today, only a sketch of the lamps of the main staircase with Shokhin’s autograph and a section of the staircase, signed by him, have been preserved, but not a single signed drawing could be found. The main staircase is decorated with decorative elements symbolizing ancient Russian forms.

Gypsum balusters of the main staircase

The architectural and decorative design of the central building has been preserved in the lobbies; in the exhibition halls, the walls and ceilings are decorated with profiled rods, geometric stucco ornaments, and stucco lampshades.

Interiors of the museum halls

There is a system of various vaults; semi-circular at the top, two- and four-leaf doors with original ornamentation in the panels and brass handles; stairs with cast iron balusters of complex shape; figured stair railings; cast iron steps and railings of spiral staircases; flooring (tiles, parquet, metal plates, metlakh tiles); tiled stoves; furniture; mirrors The interiors of the Polytechnic Museum suffered the most damage in areas not used for museum purposes. “When clearing the walls under 20-25 layers of paint, the original finish was discovered - gypsum plaster, which has a specific impregnation, making it look like artificial marble. Very finely graded colors were applied on top of it. Such a painting system remains to be studied. As for the stairs themselves, the first clearing of the handrails showed the presence of artificial marble here.”

Not only the unique collections that visitors see, but also almost all the elements that form the interior spaces of the museum - walls, floors, stairs, lampshades, lamps - are original exhibits. And even if, as a result of the upcoming reconstruction of the museum, for reasons of natural disrepair they cannot be preserved in their places, their samples can be included in the stock of the now, alas, non-existent, but former in the early twentieth century, Architectural Department of the museum.

Architectural department of the museum. Photography from the late 20th century.
Archives of the Polytechnic Museum

In addition to the well-known ones, the Polytechnic Museum has many internal staircases that are inaccessible to visitors, and all of them are different from each other. For example, near the stairs in the basement, even the simplest flights are monumental: painted casting, dolomite steps, columns with cubic capitals - these are stylistic Russian-Byzantine elements running through many rooms of the museum.

Railings and balusters of painted cast iron of the museum staircase

Unique plaster floor lamps for the main staircase

Until very recently, the floor lamps of the main staircase were painted with the white paint familiar to modern visitors. Today they appear in colorful attire appropriate to the style, just as restorers believe they were intended to be. Research has shown that the floor lamps are made of plaster, which is unprecedented for objects of decorative and applied art of the late 19th century.

The interiors retain original glass shades; ceramic and parquet floors, split oak. There are also rare elements from the Soviet period, quite successfully integrated into the historical interiors.

For a long time, due attention was not paid to the building of the Polytechnic Museum. It was only in the late 1990s that it was included in the list of newly identified cultural heritage sites. “The Polytechnic is a contemporary of the Historical Museum. But if the latter’s building is generally recognized as a unique architectural monument of federal significance, then, as for the Polytechnic, only its Great Auditorium has federal monument status.”

Large auditorium of the Polytechnic Museum

The Polytechnic Museum is one of the first public buildings in Russia, the interior and exterior decoration of which was made in the Russian style. He opened a whole series of buildings of this kind in the center of Moscow. “The Architect’s Companion to Moscow” for 1895 reported: “One can hope that the revival of Russian architecture, begun by Moscow, will continue and gradually progress; the first of the public buildings built in the Russian style are the Polytechnic and Historical museums, later the Korsha and Paradise theaters, the City Duma, the Upper and Middle city shopping arcades.”

I would like to quote the completely fair words of I.P. Mashkov regarding the architecture of the capital of the last decades of the 19th century: “During the period under review, Moscow significantly changed its physiognomy, due to the many new buildings that appeared, both public and private. In this relatively short time, some parts of the city became completely unrecognizable; By the way, several grandiose buildings have appeared, which, in terms of their significance and size, are among the outstanding buildings in Europe.”

One of them - the building of the Polytechnic Museum on Lubyanka Square - and these days visibly testifies to the talent and high professionalism of domestic architects who, at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries, managed to decorate the ancient city with a beautiful architectural monument that requires from us, people of the 21st century, care and attention.

PS:
In the next six years, the museum building is planned to be significantly rebuilt. It will be taken on by Japanese architect Junio ​​Ishigami, who won the design competition in October last year.
More details - Cultured place
"Arguments of the week", 05.04.2012

Second half of the 1750s. Foundation of Moscow University with the Department of Natural History (1755); donation to the University by the Demidov family of their family collection of natural history objects - the “Henkel Cabinet” (1757–1759), the establishment on its basis of the Mineral (Natural) Cabinet at the said Department (1759) - the predecessor of the modern Zoological and Mineralogical Museums.

1770 The mineral cabinet is being brought into the system, and its first inventory is being compiled.

1791 Relocation of the Mineralogical (Natural) office from the former Pharmacy House to the new university building on Mokhovaya; from this year it begins to be titled “Cabinet of Natural History”; This year marks the existence of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University.

1805–1807 Based on donated P.G. Demidov of the collection of natural history at the University established the Demidov Department of Natural History with the transfer of the Cabinet of Natural History to the jurisdiction of its ordinary professor (head); bringing the two main sections of the university collection - the “Imperial Museum” and the “Demidov Museum” - into order, corresponding to the Natural System accepted in Europe; its complete catalog is compiled and published.

1810s Destruction of almost the entire university collection of natural history objects in the Moscow fire (1812); the restoration of this collection anew through numerous donations (1813 onwards); its location is in the restored university building on Mokhovaya on the right corner of Nikitskaya Street. (1818); the new collection is organized not according to the previous “departmental”, but according to a “natural” principle - like the Zoological and Mineralogical cabinets.

Mid-second half of the 1830s. According to the new university Charter, the single Demidov Department and the Museum of Natural History were abolished and divided according to the above “natural” principle into departments of zoology and mineralogy with offices of the same name attached to them (1835), they are assigned to different professors; however, subsequent (up to the 1860s) university annual reports indicate that these offices are departments of the Natural History Museum; moving the collections to the new building of the University on the left side of Nikitskaya Street. (1837).

Late 1840s The zoological and mineralogical collections are separated geographically: this became an important prerequisite for the transformation of the Zoological Cabinet into a full-fledged Zoological Museum.

First half of the 1860s By order of the trustee of the Moscow educational district, almost the entire collection of naturals that makes up the university Museum of Natural History was transferred to the newly created Public Museum (1861); in 1864–1865 collections have been returned. The Zoological Cabinet is fully integrated with the Department of Zoology, a special “staffing division” has been established between them: this strengthened the demarcation of the two sections of the named Museum of Natural History (which had actually ceased its “single” existence) and became the last step towards the transformation of the Zoological Cabinet into an independent Zoological Museum (1870 -e years).

1900s Moving of the Zoo Museum to the newly rebuilt building of the Zoological Building on the right side of Nikitskaya Street, which it shares with the Institute and Museum of Comparative Anatomy (1901–1902). The exhibition halls on the second floor are equipped with specially ordered metal display cases from the Künscherf company (1907–1909). The floor in the Lower Hall was completely rebuilt (1910). The upper hall of the Zoo Museum opens to visitors (1911).

First half of the 1930s. In connection with the reorganization of the entire scientific and educational system of the country, the Zoo Museum is assigned a mainly educational (exhibition) function. Its scientific part (including the management of stock collections) is briefly transferred to the jurisdiction of the Scientific Research Institute of Zoology (NIIZ), whose leadership proposes to distribute the museum collections to other universities, museums and schools (1930). The Museum of Comparative Anatomy (1931) is attached to the Zoo Museum; The Zoo Museum (in its new composition) is transferred from the university subordination to the direct subordination of the Main Science of the People's Commissariat for Education, it receives the name “Moscow Zoological Museum” (1931). From now on, the director of the Zoo Museum is appointed regardless of official position in any of the faculty departments; the administrative and staffing system is changing in it (1932), accounting, storage and exhibition work is being established (1933–1935); the exhibition in the Lower Hall is reorganized and it opens to the public (1932–1933).

First half of the 1940s. In connection with the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, part of the Zoo Museum’s collections was taken to Ashgabat, some were conserved (1941); some time later they return to Moscow and are placed in their original places; the exhibition halls on the second floor are opened to the public (1942–1943)

Early 1950s Due to the introduction of a new salary system in the scientific and teaching system, almost all of its leading employees are leaving the Zoo Museum. In preparation for the move of most of the faculties of Moscow University to a new complex of buildings on the Lenin Hills, many premises of the Zoo Museum are allocated for various types of services and materials, exhibition halls are closed to the public, and a significant part of the collections is conserved (1951–1952). After the move and the vacancy of the premises, storage and exhibition work returned to normal (1955–1955). The relocation of the Faculty of Biology greatly reduced the possibility of including museum collections in the pedagogical process; For the same reason, the Zoo Museum was deprived of almost its entire scientific library.

Mid-1960s To correct the abnormal situation with the official salaries of Zoo Museum researchers, they are officially “assigned” to specialized departments of the Faculty of Biology. The situation with salaries is improving, employees continue to work within the walls of the Zoo Museum, providing the entire system of replenishment, storage and use of collection funds, but “legally” it is deprived of its scientific and conservation staff.

1970s and 1980s The museum is entering a difficult and long period of major renovation, which began with the failure of the floor of the lower hall (1971). During the renovation, the area occupied by the Museum was significantly expanded (due to the addition of premises previously allocated for residential apartments), the Lower Hall was equipped with new metal display cases, the Zoological Auditorium was reconstructed, many storage facilities were equipped with metal racks and cabinets. During the second half of the 1980s. collections are housed in the old and new premises, exhibition halls are open to the public.

1991 The Zoo Museum has been given the status of a research institution, it is called the “Research Zoological Museum of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov"; Researchers working at the Zoo Museum are once again officially included in its staff.

Early–mid 2010s Scientific and educational activities are significantly intensifying at the Zoo Museum. The zoological auditorium is reorganized into the Biolecture Hall (2006), and the Zoological Museum begins to actively participate in city educational events. New divisions are being established: a terrarium with scientific and educational functions (2010), a sector of scientific and public projects (2010), the Belomorsk branch of the Zoo Museum on the basis of the Belomorsk Biological Station of Moscow State University (2011). Digital technologies are beginning to be actively used in scientific storage and educational work: electronic databases on scientific (including standard) collections are being organized.