Published on: 2026-09-09
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The beginning of the school year is a time when parents actively look for leisure formats that can not only entertain the child but also provide new knowledge without stress and coercion. Traditional museum halls with their strict rules are not always suitable. But the children’s museum, located on the first floor of the Grand Palace in Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve, specially designed for young visitors.
How the children’s museum appeared in “Tsaritsyno”
The idea of creating the museum came from visitor requests. “Families with small children often come to ‘Tsaritsyno.’ And we have heard more than once, while walking through the halls, how little ones get tired, whine, want to touch something. That’s why we wanted to create a special interactive space,” explains Natalya Machikhina, head of the sector for work with new audiences at the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve.
Today, even adults come to the children’s museum: they want not only to learn about the history of the museum and the place, but also to play games, watch animated videos that help to gain knowledge in a more accessible form.
A large team worked on the concept of the children’s museum, including specialists involved in creating interactive exhibits.
“If I were to describe our museum in three adjectives, it would be bright, tactile, and, I very much hope, inspiring,” says Natalia Machikhina.
The main principle of the space was formulated by Elizaveta Fokina, the general director of the museum-reserve: “In a children’s museum, under no circumstances should one say, ‘Don’t touch!’ This is a space for free exploration! It must captivate the child: they should not only see the exhibit but also listen, touch, and feel it. They need the opportunity to immerse themselves in any story, quite literally.”
The oak chronicler, Catherine II’s house, and a bat
The exhibition consists of five thematic halls, each offering specific mechanics for interacting with the history.
The first hall, “Time of Tsaritsyn,” visualizes it through an oak model — the annual rings show different eras. Here, children watch cartoons about the Vyatichi tribe and the village of Chernaya Gryaz, which used to be located where “Tsaritsyn” now stands. Learning can also be done independently with the help of interactive modules: in one, they are invited to choose from primers of different times the one used to study letters in the 17th century; in another, to guess among buildings the house where Catherine II lived.
A separate exhibit is dedicated to the recent Soviet history of Tsaritsyno, where the main role is played by a bat that can be taken out from behind the wall and carefully examined, since Tsaritsyno remained for a long time a beautiful ruin of the palace complex and attracted many of these animals.
Architectural secrets and a cat’s paw on the brick
The second hall “Palace Construction” introduces the architecture of Vasily Bazhenov and Matvey Kazakov. All exhibits are placed at a low height so that children can not only comfortably look at them but also press and turn them. Children can personally sketch the architectural details they like.
The only item that cannot be touched is the old tower hook for lifting heavy loads at a height of 2.5 meters. The central element of the hall is a projection onto a horizontal surface: a short animated film tells the 20-year history of the construction of Tsaritsyn and reveals the mystery of a cat paw print on one of the bricks of the First Cavalry Corps.
Fireworks, chess, and a virtual wardrobe
The third hall, “Palace Entertainment,” is dedicated to games, balls, and court theater. In the virtual historical workshop, it is easy to try on a lady-in-waiting’s dress, a chamberlain’s doublet, and theatrical masks. Guests can play wall chess and participate in the game “Hound Hunt.”
Both children and adults love the computer game about generating fireworks the most in this hall. By combining different types of bursts — “Chinese wheel,” “fountain,” “skylark,” and “chrysanthemums” — you can create a real fiery spectacle.
Green zone and archaeology
The fourth hall of “Tsaritsyno Open Air” is fully decorated in green tones. Archaeological finds from the park, mostly shards of clay vessels, are displayed in exhibition modules shaped like garden flowerpots. Here, the magnetic puzzle “Park Creator” operates, a projection cartoon with a wise raven plays, and there is a real slide available for children, taking age restrictions into account.
The additional fifth hall is a multifunctional space with a theatrical stage and a laboratory. It can be visited as part of separate children’s educational programs.
The main criterion for success
The work of the children’s museum in “Tsaritsyno” was appreciated even by the strictest audience — teenagers. According to Natalia Machikhina, the group of schoolchildren invited to test the exhibition gave constructive criticism on the design and relevance of the formats.
“The teenagers approached the children’s museum very professionally and rigorously and made a large number of comments on how it could be improved and made more modern,” notes Natalia Machikhina. “When answering the last question: ‘Would you have liked to have such a museum in your childhood?’ everyone’s eyes lit up. The kids said, ‘Yes, we would have liked to have such a museum in our childhood.’ For me, this became the most important thing: they liked and were inspired by the museum. That means we are working in the right direction.”
The museum is located on the first floor of the Grand Palace — it is the first exhibition that visitors see when coming down the escalator. A ticket to the exhibition is required for entry The Grand Palace and the Bread House. Admission is free for children under seven years old.
This format turns a visit to the museum into a mindful family outing, where complex historical facts are absorbed through action and play.
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