The state historical museum activities in Moscow in the late 19th - early 20th centuries

The study discusses the current problems of preserving historical and cultural heritage and establishing urban cultural space. Based on an integrated approach and archival documents, the author analyzes the aspects of creation, operation, educational and publishing activities of the State Historical Museum, a one-of-a-kind architectural monument in the cultural space of Moscow, at the turn of the 20th century. The paper demonstrates the main stages of the museum’s construction and describes its rich interior decorated by the prominent architects and artists such as I.K. Aivazovsky, I.E. Bondarenko, V.M. Vasnetsov, A.P. Popov, I.E. Repin, V.A. Serov and others. The museum is located in the urban environment of historical value and fits perfectly the ensemble of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.