The State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow occupies a classical mansion on Tverskaya Street 21, a few minutes’ walk from Tverskaya and Pushkinskaya Metro. The building dates from the late 18th century, housed the Moscow English Club from 1831 to 1917 and has been a museum since the revolution.
It was long known as the Museum of the Revolution and was renamed in 1998, when the displays were widened to cover a century and a half of Russian history. This guide explains how to recognize the building by its stone lions, what the displays cover, which parts are branches elsewhere, how language is handled for foreign visitors, which Metro stations are nearest, and how to combine a visit with Patriarch’s Ponds and the Bulgakov Museum nearby.
Quick Facts
| Russian name | Государственный центральный музей современной истории России |
|---|---|
| Built / opened | 1917 |
| Address | Tverskaya Street 21, building 1, Moscow 125009 OpenStreetMap · Google Maps |
| District | Tverskoy |
| Metro | Tverskaya (Line 2, green, a walk of about 4 minutes along Tverskaya Street) Pushkinskaya (Line 7, purple, a walk of about 4 minutes) Chekhovskaya (Line 9, light gray, named by a guide as another nearby station) |
| Opening hours | The English page of the official site gives the main building as open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00, Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00 and closed on Monday, with ticket sales stopping 30 minutes before closing, while its Russian page gives slightly different times and includes Sunday, so confirm the current hours (as of October 2026 – check the official site). |
| Admission | Ticket prices were not found on the pages checked, and visitors in privileged categories can receive a free ticket at the ticket office, so check the official site for current prices. |
| Best time to visit | Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends and school holidays are busier. The museum works all year round and suits a rainy or winter day; see the Moscow in the Rain: Indoor Sightseeing Itinerary. Check the opening hours, which differ between the official pages. |
| Recommended duration | About 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Website | sovrhistory.ru/visitors/index.php?lang=en |
| Last updated | October 9, 2026 |
What Is (and Isn't) Part of a Visit to State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow?
| Part | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The main building at Tverskaya 21 | Included in the standard ticket | The permanent displays and special exhibitions in the former English Club mansion; check ticket types. |
| Guided and thematic tours | Separate ticket or institution | Offered separately and mostly in Russian; booking is by phone according to the official site. |
| Free tickets for privileged categories | Included in the standard ticket | Available at the ticket office with proof of the right to a benefit. |
| The branches, such as Presnya and the memorials | Separate ticket or institution | Separate addresses with their own hours, not part of a visit to Tverskaya 21. |
| The Moscow Art Theatre and Bulgakov Museum nearby | Outside / not part of it | Separate institutions; see the Bulgakov Museum Moscow guide. |
| Rooms closed for renovation | Not open to visitors | Some halls may be closed at times; check before you go. |
Why Visit State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow?
The museum is both a history museum and a piece of architecture. The mansion is a monument of late 18th-century Moscow classicism, and from 1831 to 1917 it was the home of the Moscow English Club, a social club of the city’s elite, before it became the Museum of the Revolution.
Its collection documents political, social and cultural events from the middle of the 19th century to the present, in posters, documents, photographs and objects. It is a useful stop for visitors who want a sense of the 20th century as it is presented in a Russian museum. Language is a point to plan for, since many labels are in Russian.
How State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow Is Laid Out
The main building stands on Tverskaya Street 21, building 1, behind a gateway guarded by stone lions, in the former English Club mansion. Inside, rooms follow a chronological order, with themed halls and special exhibition spaces.
The museum also runs several other sites, among them Presnya, the Underground Printing House, Krzhizhanovsky’s apartment, the Evtushenko gallery and the Katyn and Mednoye memorials, according to the official site, which are separate addresses and not part of a visit to Tverskaya 21. Ticket sales stop 30 minutes before closing. Check the official site for which halls are open, since some may close for renovation.
Highlights of State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
The stone lions and the mansion
Stone lions guard the gateway of the classical mansion on Tverskaya, a late 18th-century monument of Moscow classicism. The building belonged to an aristocratic family before the Moscow English Club moved in in 1831. Look at the lions and the facade from the street. Check the lighting in the evening.
Tip: Photograph the lions from Tverskaya Street before you enter.
The former English Club
From 1831 to 1917 the building housed the Moscow English Club, a social club that influenced public opinion in Russia, and the museum offers a tour about the club's traditions and the mansion's architecture, according to the official site. Look at the grand rooms and staircases. Check whether the tour is offered in English.
Tip: Ask about the building tour at the ticket office.
The Museum of the Revolution legacy
The building was given over to a museum of the Russian Revolution in 1917, and its first exposition began in 1922 with the Red Moscow exhibition marking the fifth anniversary of the October Revolution. The museum took its present name in 1998. Check how the revolution period is presented in the current displays.
Tip: Allow time for the early 20th-century halls, since they set up the rest.
The century of exhibits
The permanent display covers the period from the middle of the 19th century to the present, with documents, posters, photographs and objects across the late Russian empire, the revolution, the Soviet era and later decades. Language is a limit: English texts are sparse. Check whether audio guides or translated materials are offered.
Tip: Read about the periods in advance since many labels are in Russian.
Guided and thematic tours
The museum offers overview tours and thematic tours, among them one on Russia in the First World War, mostly in Russian, according to the official site. They are the best way to follow the displays if booked in advance. Check whether English-language tours are available.
Tip: Book a tour in advance if you need an English-speaking guide.
The branches elsewhere
The museum runs other sites, among them the Presnya branch, the Underground Printing House, Krzhizhanovsky's apartment, the Evtushenko gallery and the Katyn and Mednoye memorials, each with its own address and hours. They are not included in a visit to the Tverskaya building. Check the official site for each site's hours.
Tip: Do not expect the branches to be at Tverskaya 21.
Atmosphere
Behind the stone lions the rooms of the mansion are high and quiet, with parquet floors, tall windows and glass cases of posters and documents. Footsteps and the murmur of guides carry from room to room, and the building’s old staircases give the visit a sense of the club it once was.
Visitors are Muscovite families and school groups, history enthusiasts and some tourists. Weekday mornings are the quietest, and weekends and school holidays bring groups. Tverskaya’s traffic fades once you are inside.
History of State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
The mansion on Tverskaya Street is an architectural monument of Moscow classicism from the late 18th century, said to date from the 1780s, and it belonged to an aristocratic family before becoming the home of the Moscow English Club, which occupied it from 1831 to 1917. The club’s influence on the formation of public opinion in Russia is one of the themes of the museum’s building tour.
In 1917 the building was given over to a museum dedicated to the Russian Revolution, and the museum’s exposition began in 1922, when the Red Moscow exhibition was organized there to mark the fifth anniversary of the October Revolution. The museum was known for decades as the Central Museum of the Revolution of the USSR.
In the early 1990s the museum created a series of exhibitions on different historical periods that prepared the new permanent exposition, and in September 1998 it was renamed the State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia, with displays covering the period from the middle of the 19th century to the present. The museum also runs several branches, among them memorials, a printing house and apartments of historical figures. Dates and details should be checked against the museum’s official site, and this history is shorter than requested because few facts could be verified; sources differ on some dates.
Tickets and Booking for State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Tickets. Tickets are sold at the museum’s ticket offices, which stop selling 30 minutes before closing, and prices were not found on the pages checked, so no figures are given here; no online booking window was verified. Visitors in privileged categories can get a free ticket at the ticket office and must show a document confirming the right to a benefit at the entrance control. Tours are booked by phone according to the official site, and rates for Russian citizens and concessions differ, so check the official site sovrhistory.ru for all categories and visiting rules.
Payment. Cash in rubles is the safe option at the ticket office. Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, and your country’s sanctions rules may restrict some payment services, so check this yourself.
Plan and Book
Suggested itineraries State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
1.5 hours
Look at the stone lions, buy a ticket, follow the chronological halls from the late 19th century to later decades and finish at the exit on Tverskaya.
2 hours
Add a guided tour of the mansion and the English Club story, then walk to Pushkin Square.
Half day on Tverskaya
Combine the museum with the Bulgakov Museum and Patriarch's Ponds, following the Patriarch's Ponds and Tverskoy Boulevard Walking Itinerary.
How to Get to State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Take the Metro to Tverskaya (Line 2, green) or Pushkinskaya (Line 7, purple), each about 4 minutes on foot along Tverskaya Street to number 21; Chekhovskaya (Line 9) is also near.
- By taxi: ask for Tverskaya 21, the Museum of Contemporary History.
- On foot: the museum is a short walk from Pushkin Square and the Moscow Art Theatre.
- Orientation: look for the stone lions at the gateway.
Accessibility
The museum is in a historic mansion, and accessibility facilities such as lifts, ramps and wheelchair access were not verified on the official site pages checked, so check sovrhistory.ru or call the museum before you go.
Food Nearby
Tverskaya Street, Pushkin Square and the streets around have many cafes and restaurants; the exact venues were not verified. See the Moscow Food Tour: Russian Cuisine and Local Specialties itinerary.
What to Bring
Bring a translation app or printed notes, since many labels are in Russian, and comfortable shoes for the long halls.
Best Views and Photo Spots of State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
The stone lions at the gateway
Two stone lions on the gateposts of the mansion on Tverskaya.
Best time: Morning light.
The facade from Tverskaya Street
A classical facade behind trees and a gateway.
Best time: Dusk.
The main staircase
A grand interior staircase of the former club; ask before photographing.
Best time: Weekday mornings.
Tverskaya Street toward Pushkin Square
The busy street with the mansion on one side.
Best time: Early evening.
Photography Rules
Photography rules for the halls and exhibits were not verified on the pages checked, so ask staff and follow signs; flash and tripods may be restricted, and drones must not be flown over the center.
Family Suitability
Suitable for older children and teenagers interested in history, with school programs offered according to the official site; many labels are in Russian, which limits younger foreign visitors. Stroller access was not verified.
Moscow Vibes Tips
- Prepare for language, since many labels are in Russian and English texts are limited.
- Check whether all halls are open, since some may be closed for renovation.
- Do not confuse the main building at Tverskaya 21 with the museum's branches.
- Look for the stone lions at the gateway to find the entrance.
- Book a tour in advance if you need a guide.
- Combine the museum with the Bulgakov Museum and Patriarch's Ponds in one walk.
Explore Nearby State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Sights near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Bulgakov Museum Moscowabout 550 m away (~9 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 hourMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Chekhov Moscow Art Theatreabout 1000 m away (~16 min walk) · typical visit: About 3 hours for a performanceMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Patriarch's Ponds Moscowabout 650 m away (~11 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hermitage Garden Moscowabout 750 m away (~12 min walk) · typical visit: About 1 to 2 hoursMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Tchaikovsky Concert Hall Moscowabout 450 m away (~7 min walk) · typical visit: About 2.5 to 3 hours for a concertMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Museum of Modern Artabout 800 m away (~13 min walk) · typical visit: About 1.5 to 2 hours per venueMain image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Metro stations near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Tverskaya Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pushkinskaya Metro Stationabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Mayakovskaya Metro Stationabout 500 m away (~8 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Restaurants and cafes near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Grabliabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Pafosabout 300 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Cafe Pushkinabout 350 m away (~5 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Butlerabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Nightlife near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
The Hat Moscowabout 50 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Noor Barabout 100 m away (~1 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Hotels near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
InterContinental Moscow Tverskayaabout 100 m away (~2 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Parradosso Boutique Hotelabout 250 m away (~4 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Standart Hotel Moscowabout 350 m away (~6 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Train stations and river piers near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Belorussky Railway Terminalabout 1.8 km away (~29 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Events and traditions near State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Pushkin Day and Russian Language Day in Moscowabout 150 m away (~3 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Moscow Tea Party Festivalabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
Easter Gift Festival in Moscowabout 750 m away (~12 min walk)Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
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FAQ: State Central Museum of Contemporary History of Russia Moscow
Is it the same as the Museum of the Revolution?
Yes, it was the Museum of the Revolution until it was renamed in 1998.
What was the building before?
The home of the Moscow English Club from 1831 to 1917.
Which Metro station is closest?
Tverskaya or Pushkinskaya, about 4 minutes on foot.
Is it in English?
Some texts are, but many labels are in Russian.
When is it closed?
On Mondays, according to the official site.
Are the branches part of the ticket?
No. They are separate sites with their own hours.
Do I need a guide?
Not required, but a guide helps with the Russian labels; see the booking section.
Can I pay with a foreign card?
Foreign Visa and Mastercard cards are reported not to work in Russia, so carry cash in rubles; see the booking section for sanctions rules.
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Last updated: October 9, 2026.
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