The Central Naval Museum - one of the oldest museums in Russia and one of the largest maritime museums in the world. The museum originates from the St. Petersburg Model Chamber - shipbuilding storage models and drawings. It was on January 24, 1709 when Peter I reading : “Take the Model Chamber out of my house and place it by the shipyard, wherever a proper place is available …”. The Model Chamber was locate in the Main Admiralty, where to build ships of the Baltic Fleet.
In 1805 was created "Maritime Museum", which became the basis for the collection of the Model Chamber. By the end of the XIX century, Maritime Museum has become a significant Russian cultural and scientific center, became known throughout the world.
In 1908, before the solemn celebration of the 200th anniversary of the museum, he was given the name of the founder - Peter the Great. Replacing a number of names, he became in 1924 the Central Naval Museum.
In August 1939 the Central Naval Museum was given one of the most beautiful buildings of Leningrad - the Stock Exchange building on the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island in Leningrad. In 1941 began the Great Patriotic War. The most valuable exhibits were evacuated. The remaining exhibits were carefully guarded by the museum staff during the siege of Leningrad.
In 2013, the collection was moved to the new building - renovated complex Kryukov (Marine) barracks.
The Central Naval Museum has 7 branches
In 1956, the Museum opened its first branch on the legendary cruiser Aurora (1), the most famous cruiser in the world, a participant in the Great October Socialist Revolution. Aurora became Russia's first museum ship. In 1972 was open a branch of The road of life (2). In 1980 was open a branch Kronstadt Fortress (3). In 1994, was open the first in Russia museum on the submarine D-2 Narodovolets (4).
In 1957, the independent Museum of the Baltic Fleet (5)was opened. The museum was originally located in Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region. In 1963, he was transferred to Tallinn, the main base of the Red Banner Baltic Fleet. In 1992, when the fleet forces were withdrawn from the Baltic states, the Baltic Fleet Command returned the museum to Baltiysk, Kaliningrad region. In 2012, the Baltic Fleet Museum became a branch of the Central Naval Museum.
By Order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 216 dated February 6, 2012, the Ship of Military Glory Mikhail Kutuzov (6) became a branch of the Central Naval Museum. The branch is located in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Territory.
At the end of 2020, the Museum of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol (7) is a branch of the Central Naval Museum named after Emperor Peter the Great. The museum was founded on September 14 (26), 1869, on the initiative of participants in the 349-day defense of Sevastopol and under the patronage of Emperor Alexander II.
