The State Armory Museum
- July 22, 2006
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Wasatch from heber ctity, Utah
The Armory struck us as the Tsar’s knickknack shelf, but the Tsar’s knickknacks are nothing like
your Aunt Tillie’s. The Armory house every thing from the Russian Crown Jewels (extra fee) to
the throne of Ivan the Terrible. A visit to the Armory was one of our morning bus tours. It did
not start well. The police had closed a number of streets for some event, necessitating a
impromptu tour of the other side of the Moscow River as the driver tried to find a way to get to
the Kremlin. When we finally arrived, our entrance tickets were on another bus that took another
20 minus to arrive. Then followed 65 minuet wait in line to enter the Kremlin because only one
metal detector was working at the Kremlin Gate. When we finally made our way to the Armory
the first room we entered displayed royal robes, thrones, court and religious dress. Next, a
collection of royal armor, including armor for horses. A large collection of regal state coaches
followed.
Upstairs, large rooms displayed a myriad of royal stuff– Faberge Eggs, jeweled swords and ivory
inlaid guns, a set of dishes that were a gift from Napoleon before his ill-fated invasion, and many
other precious items, mostly gifts to the Tsar from foreign heads of state or from the Russian
nobility. Although there was a whole display case of Faberge eggs, the two in the Walters Gallery
in Baltimore are more impressive.
The exterior of The State Armory Museum is a striking yellow and white neo-classical design.
The rooms on the first floor are purely display rooms, but upstairs, the large gallery is a striking
hall with tall fluted columns and well decorated ceiling. The 19th Century building takes its name
from being built on the space inside the Kremlin previously occupied by the Kremlin armory.
The Armory Museum was one of the highlights of our Russian trip, and belongs on everyone’s
don’t miss list.
From journal Moscow--Russia’s Showpiece Capital