Russian Ethnography Museum is an excellent historical representation of traditional lifestyle of over one hundred and fifty ethnic Russian tribes. This Ethnography Museum in Russia has a collection of over 500,000 objects belonging to 18th - 20th century Russia. The Russian Ethnographic Museum founded in 1895 emerged as an independent cultural and scientific institution in 1934. In 1991 this museum became famous as The Russian Museum of Ethnography.
The St. Petersburg Ethnography Museum as it stands today was designed by architect V.F. Svinyin, and constructed between 1903 and 1915. This was the first State building built as a dedicated museum of the 20th century. Atop the facade a structure of 'Athena – the patroness of crafts and the arts' has been carved.
The museum is made up of the Entrance Hall and the Marble Room. The Marble Hall measuring over 1000 sq. meters is dedicated to Alexander III. A plinth of 28 columns made of pink Karelian marble forms a gallery. The ceiling of the Marble Hall is made of crystal glass with engravings of double-headed eagles. 'People of Russia', a relief sculpted by V. Bogatyriov and M. Khartamov forms the highlight of the Marble Hall.
The Russian Ethnographic Museum has a display of eleven permanent galleries, namely:
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- The Kazan Tartars
- The Ukrainians
- The Uzbeks
- The Kazaks
- The Kirghiz
- The Sea Hunters
- Settled hunters and fishermen
- Shamanism of the People of the far East and Siberia
- Craftsmen of Azerbaijan and Armenia
- Hospitality of the people of North Caucasus
The thematic displays include:
- Russian wedding
- Georgian Feast
- Traditional agriculture
- Traditional Costume
- Traditional crafts
- Traditional house and family life
- Rituals
The Russian Ethnography Museum is open to visitors from Tuesdays to Saturdays between 10:30 am and 6pm, and till 5 pm on Sundays The Museum remains closed on Mondays, and 2nd Fridays of every month. The museum, located in 4/1 Inzhenemaya Ulitsa, St. Petersburg 191001 is near Gostiny Dvor and Nevsky Prospekt Metro stations.
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