Polytechnic Museum in Moscow: excursions, reviews

For more than 250 years, our country has been one of the leaders in the field of world science. During this time, many discoveries and inventions have been made within the walls of Russian universities in various fields that have changed the lives of people on all continents. To acquaint the public with the most important and interesting of them, in 1872 the Polytechnic Museum was opened in Moscow. The basis of his collection were exhibits of the exhibition organized in honor of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Peter the Great, the monarch, who made a great contribution to the transformation of Russia from a backward agrarian country into a state with developed industry and economy.

A little 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 Street. In 1877, he moved to a specially constructed building at the address: Lubyansky Proyezd 4. However, during the next 30 years, construction work continued, as a result of which two wings appeared next to the central building: the northern and southern wings. Nevertheless, even during these years, active educational work was conducted within the museum and lectures were given by such science luminaries as Yablochkov, Mendeleev, Timiryazev, Zhukovsky and others.

Polytechnic Museum in Moscow in the first half of the 20th century

During the First World War, many employees of this institution went to the front, an infirmary was set up in the building itself, and the X-ray machines that were part of the exposition began to be used as equipment for the 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 in the country of Soviet power, the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow became the arena of heated political debates.

However, the traditions laid down by the creators continued to be the main activity for his employees. Thanks to their heroism, they managed to save a lot of exhibits, which 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, suspected of disloyalty to the communist regime.

In 1930, the museum organized meetings with such outstanding personalities as Niels Bohr, Leon Feuchtwanger, as well as with heroes-Chelyuskin and pilots from the crew of Valery Chkalov, who made an incredible at that time non-stop flight from the capital of the USSR to New York.

In the first years of the Great Patriotic War, the Polytechnic Museum in Moscow is closed for visits, but already in 1944, the former mode of operation is restored there.

History of the museum from 1950 to 2000

Rapid development of applied scientific directions of the post-war period leads to the opening of new expositions and sections devoted to nuclear power engineering, polymer chemistry and cosmonautics. In 1991, the Polytechnical Museum, whose excursions never ceased to be popular even in the most difficult years for the country, was included among the most valuable objects of Russia's cultural heritage by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation.

Moscow Polytechnic Museum in the 21st century

In the early 2000s it became clear that a new approach was required both for the design of the exposition and for the organization of excursions. However, the first years of the new millennium were far from the best time for the country's economy, which was only trying to recover from the protracted crisis. And only in 2010 the modernization was launched, and in 2013 the building was closed for reconstruction. The Polytechnic Museum did not stop its work, as its funds were moved to temporary sites. In particular, today some of its exhibits can be seen at VDNKh, pavilion number 26. In addition, the museum's units, including its library, operate on the territory of the ZIL Center, where the University of Children, lecture halls and scientific laboratories are also located.

Polytechnic Museum at VDNKh

Those who have already visited the new exposition operating in Pavilion No. 26 claim that today it is one of the most important places in Moscow for all those interested in the latest achievements in science and technology. Judging by the reviews, the creators of this temporary site for placing part of the exposition of the Polytechnic Museum did a great job and took into account the most advanced experience of European colleagues. As a result, a great interactive exhibition has turned out, where everyone can feel like a researcher making an important scientific discovery.

The Polytechnic Museum at the All-Russian Exhibition Center operates under the motto "Russia is doing itself", and its exposition is mostly devoted to domestic scientists and their scientific achievements.

Excursions to Pavilion No. 26 at VDNKh

When a visitor comes to the Polytechnic Museum at VDNKh, then in each exhibition hall he is met by guides. But these are not neat old women or strict ladies of the age who accompanied visitors to the building on Novaya Ploshchad. The fact is that this exposition is equipped with the latest technology, and even the guides there are interactive. Therefore, if the visitor wants to listen to information about a section or about an exhibit, it is enough for him to stand on a special circle equipped with sensors. In addition, next to the windows are tablets, using which you can learn a lot of interesting things.

Exposition

Those who visited the museum building on Novaya Ploshchad probably did not even notice the mock-up of the nuclear bomb that was installed there on the stairs. But in the new exposition at VDNKh he was given the main place. Moreover, standing on a special platform, you can feel some of the factors caused by the nuclear explosion: strong vibration from the shock wave, a sharp gust of wind, etc. In the same 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 cosmonauts are equipped and you can observe the implementation of some experiments conducted on the ISS, such as hydroponics. In addition, people are always interested in the everyday details of life in orbit, and the only place where an ordinary person can, for example, see what a space toilet looks like is the Polytechnic Museum. Reviews also recommend visiting the "Illusions" section, which features unique holograms, as well as a 3D film that is over 40 years old.

What to show the children?

In recent decades, many countries have begun to open museum-type educational centers for children, whose main goal is the popularization of science and the emergence of interest in it among schoolchildren. Reviews of tourists and Muscovites confirm that the new Polytechnic Museum in Moscow, whose photo can not give a complete picture of all the diversity of its expositions, is one of the best places in the capital to visit with children. It is worth to visit the sections "Analogues of Nature", "New Anthropogenesis" and "Outside the Earth". In addition, the museum regularly organizes various activities for schoolchildren, especially during the holidays. In this case, parents should take into account that for preservation of exhibits in museum halls, a constant temperature of about +18 degrees is maintained, and children should be brought dressed warmer for long excursions.

Price list

The Polytechnic Museum in Moscow (photo from its temporary pavilion at VDNKh see below) is open for visits from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 and until 20:00 (Monday is a day off). Admission price for adults is 300 rubles, for students and pensioners - 150 rubles. For veterans, invalids, minors and some other categories, the museum is free of charge.

Reviews

If you still doubt whether it is worth looking at 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 to deprive themselves and their children of the pleasure of knowing the secrets of the surrounding world in a new unusual form, unlike the methods by which knowledge of natural science subjects is presented in the school curriculum.

According to reports in the press, the Polytechnic Museum in its historic building will reopen in 2017. Let's hope that the reconstruction and modernization will benefit him, and he will become one of the best institutions of this kind on the planet.