Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera)

The Kunstkamera (translated from German - the Cabinet of Rarities) is the first public natural science museum of Russia, organized by order of Peter I in St. Petersburg in 1714. The basis of the museum collection was Peter’s personal collection, which he brought from trips to European cities. Unlike the traditional collections of works of art for that time, Peter collected exotic animals and plants, weapons, tools, as well as household items and interesting anatomical preparations.

As the Kunstkamera grew, a special building in the early Baroque style was built for it, which became a unique structure for its time. Subsequently, collections were also included in the museum funds. Today it is called the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography named after Peter the Great and includes collections of antiquities and everyday life of the peoples of the world.