Vernadsky State Geological Museum
Encyclopedia
The Vernadsky State Geological Museum is the oldest museum
in Moscow
. It was founded in 1755 and is now an earth science and educational centre of Russian Academy of Sciences
.
had studied mining principles in Germany, concluding that "it is necessary to use not only books, but objects of Nature", and it was he who came up with the principals of the charter of Moscow Imperial University, founded in January 1755, and for the founding of its geological museum. The following month the Demidov
s presented "the Mineral Study of Genkel" to the university. This collection was exhibited to the public in 1759 in the library of Aptekarsky House in the Department of Medicine. In 1778 Pavel Grigoryevich Demidov
donated his own collection, along with 100,000 roubles for its maintenance, to the university and the new Faculty of Natural History and Agriculture was named after him. In 1791 the Study became the Museum of Natural History, in 220m² of the main building's Assembly Hall on Mokhovaya street, the museum's present site.It was transferred to the left-hand side of the first floor in 1805 (with Fischer von Waldheim made its director), but in 1812 most of its collections were lost in the burning of Moscow after , though its most valuable specimens were evacuated to Nizhny Novgorod
and the losses were made up by donations and new purchases once the French invasion of Russia
had been finally expelled. These donations included one in 1813, from Pavel's nephew Nikolay N. Demidov
, of his "collection of the natural collections". In 1814 the Museum was set up again, this time on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. It was founded in 1755 and is now an earth science and educational centre of Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Academy of Sciences
The Russian Academy of Sciences consists of the national academy of Russia and a network of scientific research institutes from across the Russian Federation as well as auxiliary scientific and social units like libraries, publishers and hospitals....
.
History
Mikhail LomonosovMikhail Lomonosov
Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov was a Russian polymath, scientist and writer, who made important contributions to literature, education, and science. Among his discoveries was the atmosphere of Venus. His spheres of science were natural science, chemistry, physics, mineralogy, history, art,...
had studied mining principles in Germany, concluding that "it is necessary to use not only books, but objects of Nature", and it was he who came up with the principals of the charter of Moscow Imperial University, founded in January 1755, and for the founding of its geological museum. The following month the Demidov
Demidov
The Demidov family, also Demidoff, were an influential Russian merchant, industrialist and later chivalry family, possibly second only to the Tsar himself in wealth during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.-History:...
s presented "the Mineral Study of Genkel" to the university. This collection was exhibited to the public in 1759 in the library of Aptekarsky House in the Department of Medicine. In 1778 Pavel Grigoryevich Demidov
Pavel Grigoryevich Demidov
Pavel Grigoryevich Demidov was a Russian traveller and patron of scientific education. He was from the Demidov family.-Life:A grandson of Nikita Demidov, in 1755 he created the mineralogical museum in Moscow , in 1803 the Demidov Lyceum at Yaroslavl, and in 1805 the Demidov Scientific...
donated his own collection, along with 100,000 roubles for its maintenance, to the university and the new Faculty of Natural History and Agriculture was named after him. In 1791 the Study became the Museum of Natural History, in 220m² of the main building's Assembly Hall on Mokhovaya street, the museum's present site.It was transferred to the left-hand side of the first floor in 1805 (with Fischer von Waldheim made its director), but in 1812 most of its collections were lost in the burning of Moscow after , though its most valuable specimens were evacuated to Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod
Nizhny Novgorod , colloquially shortened to Nizhny, is, with the population of 1,250,615, the fifth largest city in Russia, ranking after Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, and Yekaterinburg...
and the losses were made up by donations and new purchases once the French invasion of Russia
French invasion of Russia
The French invasion of Russia of 1812 was a turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe...
had been finally expelled. These donations included one in 1813, from Pavel's nephew Nikolay N. Demidov
Nikolay Demidov
Count Nikolai Nikitich Demidov was a Russian industrialist, collector and arts patron of the Demidov family.-Life:...
, of his "collection of the natural collections". In 1814 the Museum was set up again, this time on Bolshaya Nikitskaya street.