The Vologda Museum-Reserve dates back to the opening of the Memorial Museum of Peter I, the first museum in Vologda and in the entire Vologda province. The solemn event took place on June 5, 1885 in the presence of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, the governor, the mayor and the archbishop.
The Vologda State Museum-Preserve of History, Architecture and Decorative Arts is situated in the historical centre of the city - the Vologda Kremlin that consists of buildings constructed during four centuries (XVI- XIX).
It is one of the largest museums of Russia's North. The ensemble of monuments was built during four centuries (XVI- XIX). Since 1926 the Eparchial Archives could be found on the Kremlin territory; in 1923 the building was transformed into the Vologda Local History Museum and achieved a status of the Vologda State Museum-Preserve of History, Architecture and Decorative Arts in 1988.
The Vologda State museum-preserve is a scientific - exploring and educational organisation, state storage of artistic, historical, architectural memorials of material and spiritual culture and as well as memorials of nature. The museum fund includes about 500000 items. The most valuable collections are the collection of Russian Ancient Art (icons), sculpture, numismatics, Old Russian books and others. The museum is annually visited by 300 thousand people. More than 40 expositions on various topics are created every year; international and all-Russian scientific conferences, practical seminars are held in the museum.
The displays of the Museum include the works of Old Russian artists, manuscripts, handicrafts, commodities, coins, weapon, armour, archaeological finds. The best exhibits were displayed in Great Britain, Germany, France, Holland, Italy, Finland and Hungary.
The most ancient stone building of the city, the Sofia Cathedral, is situated on the bank of Vologda River, eastwards from the territory of the former bishop courtyard enclosed with high stronghold walls. Built in 1565-70, it is an excellent example of mid 17th-century church architecture based on Aristotle Fioravanty's Assumption Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin.
Branches of the Vologda State Museum-Preserve:
– Museum of Architecture and Ethnography
– Exposition centre "Vologda on a boundary of centuries"
– Memorial Museum of Peter I
– "Exile in Vologda"
– Museum "Literature. Art. XX century"
– Museum "World of forgotten things"
– Memorial estate of A.Mozhaisky
– Lace Museum
The Vologda State Museum-Preserve of History, Architecture and Decorative Arts is not a only museum. This is a sort of cultural centre of the city. It became home to a theatrical festival "Voices of History", which is held every two years. Most performances of this festival are staged in the open air in the historical setting of the Vologda Kremlin. Many international conferences and seminars are held here too.