For over 250 years, our country has been one of the leaders in world science. During this time, many discoveries and inventions in various fields that have changed the lives of people on all continents have been made within the walls of domestic universities. In order to acquaint the public with the most important and interesting of them, the Polytechnical Museum in Moscow was opened in 1872. The basis of his collection was the exhibits of an exhibition organized in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, the monarch who made a huge contribution to the transformation of Russia from a backward agrarian country into a state with developed industry and economy.
A bit of history (XIX century)
The Polytechnic Museum in Moscow, or, as it was then called, the Museum of Applied Knowledge, was originally located in a temporary building on Prechistenka. In 1877 he moved to a specially erected building at 4. Lubyansky proezd. However, over the next 30 years, construction work continued, as a result of which two wings appeared next to the central building: the north and south. Nevertheless, even in those years, active educational work was carried out within the walls of the museum and such luminaries of science as Yablochkov, Mendeleev, Timiryazev, Zhukovsky and others repeatedly gave lectures.
Polytechnic Museum in Moscow in the first half of the XX century
During the First World War, many employees of this institution went to the front, an infirmary was organized in the building, and the X-ray machines that were part of the exposition were used as equipment for an X-ray room. The October Revolution was an important milestone in the history of this cultural and educational institution. In particular, in the first years after the establishment of Soviet power in the country, the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow became the scene of heated political debate.
However, the traditions laid down by the creators continued to be the main area of activity for its employees. Thanks to their heroism, many exhibits were preserved that were recognized by the new authorities as ideologically alien. But, unfortunately, the losses still could not be avoided, including among members of the museum staff who were fired, suspecting disloyalty to the communist regime.
In the 1930s, the museum organized meetings with such outstanding personalities as Niels Bohr, Leon Feuchtwanger, as well as with the Chelyuskin heroes and pilots from the crew of Valery Chkalov, who made an incredible at that time non-stop flight from the USSR capital to New York.
In the early years of World War II, the Polytechnical Museum in Moscow was closed for visits, but already in 1944 there was restored the previous operating mode.
The history of the museum from 1950 to 2000
The rapid development of applied scientific directions of the post-war period leads to the opening of new expositions and sections devoted to nuclear energy, polymer chemistry and astronautics. In 1991, the Polytechnic Museum, tours of which did not cease to be popular even in the most difficult years for the country, was included by decree of the President of the Russian Federation among the most valuable objects of Russia's cultural heritage.
Moscow Polytechnical Museum in the XXI century
In the early 2000s, it became clear that a new approach was required both in the design of the exposition and in the organization of excursions. However, the first years of the new millennium were far from the best time for the economy of the country, which was just trying to recover from a protracted crisis. And only in 2010, the start of modernization was given, and in 2013 the building was closed for reconstruction. The Polytechnic Museum did not stop working, as its funds were moved to temporary sites. In particular, today part of its exhibits can be seen at VDNH, in pavilion number 26. In addition, the museum’s departments, including its library, operate on the territory of the ZIL CC, which also houses the University of Children, lectures and research laboratories.
Polytechnical Museum at VDNH
Those who have already visited the new exposition, operating in Pavilion No. 26, claim that today it is one of the most significant places in Moscow for everyone interested in the latest achievements of science and technology. Judging by the reviews, the creators of this temporary platform to host part of the exposition of the Polytechnic Museum did a great job and took into account the best practices of European colleagues. The result was a magnificent interactive exhibition where everyone can feel like a researcher making an important scientific discovery.
The Polytechnic Museum at the All-Russian Exhibition Center operates under the slogan “Russia makes itself,” and its exposition is mainly devoted to Russian scientists and their scientific achievements.
Guided tours of Pavilion No. 26 at VDNKh
When a visitor comes to the Polytechnic Museum at VDNH, then in each exhibition hall he will be met by guides. But these are not neat old women or strict aged ladies who accompanied visitors in a building on New Square. The fact is that this exposition is equipped with the latest technology, and even the guides there are interactive. Therefore, if a visitor wants to listen to information about a section or about a particular exhibit, then it is enough for him to stand on a special circle equipped with sensors. In addition, there are tablets near the display cases, using which you can find out a lot of interesting things.
Exposition
Those who were in the building of the museum on New Square may not even have noticed the model of the nuclear bomb, which was installed on the stairs there. But in the new exposition at VDNH he was assigned the main place. Moreover, having risen on a special site, you can feel some of the factors caused by a nuclear explosion: strong vibration from a shock wave, a sharp gust of wind, etc. In this room, visitors are invited to write their wishes on paper cranes, which in Japan symbolize the memory of victims of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Of particular interest to visitors is the space sector, where cosmonaut equipment is on display and you can observe the implementation of some experiments conducted on the ISS, such as hydroponics. In addition, people are always interested in everyday details of life in orbit, and the only place where an ordinary person can, for example, see how a space toilet looks like is the Polytechnic Museum. Reviews also recommend visiting the "Illusions" section, which presents unique holograms, as well as a 3D film that is over 40 years old.
What to show to children?
In recent decades, many countries have begun to open museum-type educational centers for children, the main goal of which is to popularize science and generate interest in schoolchildren. The reviews of tourists and Muscovites confirm that the new Polytechnic Museum in Moscow, whose photos cannot give a complete picture of the diversity of its expositions, is one of the best places in the capital to visit with children. You should definitely visit the sections "Analogs of Nature", "New Anthropogenesis" and "Beyond the Earth." In addition, the museum regularly organizes various activities for schoolchildren , especially during the holidays . At the same time, parents should take into account that for the safety of exhibits in museum halls a constant temperature of about +18 degrees is maintained, and children should be brought warmly dressed for long excursions.
Prices
The Polytechnic Museum in Moscow (see the photo from its temporary pavilion at the Exhibition of Economic Achievements below) is open for visitors from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00 (Monday is a day off). The price of admission for adults is 300 rubles, for students and senior citizens - 150 rubles. For veterans, disabled people, minors and some other categories, visiting the museum is free.
Reviews
If you still doubt whether it is worth watching the temporary exhibition of the Polytechnic Museum at VDNH, read the reviews of tourists and Muscovites in various forums. The overwhelming majority of them recommend not depriving themselves and their children of the pleasure of learning the secrets of the world in a new unusual form, unlike the methods by which knowledge in natural sciences is taught as part of the school curriculum.
Judging by the press reports, the Polytechnic Museum in its historical building will reopen in 2017. Let's hope that reconstruction and modernization will benefit him, and he will become one of the best institutions of this kind on the planet.