In March 1998 the State Russian Museum, the world's largest museum of Russian Art, celebrated its Centennial. Having undergone an extensive renovation program, the museum's main building, the Mikhailovsky Palace, has now been restored to its former glory and is open to visitors as usual. The museum, originally called the "Russian Museum of Emperor Alexander III", was established in 1895 and opened its doors to the public on March 7 (19) 1898. The first few pictures that formed the original collection were donated by the Hermitage, the Academy of Fine Arts and the various royal palaces surrounding St. Petersburg. Since then the collection has grown rapidly and the museum now hosts exhibitions in four separate venues in St. Petersburg's city centre. All the branches of the museum are within short walking distance of each other and the city's central tourist attractions. | | The Russian museum  |
