The Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, or Kunstkamera, was the first museum in St. Petersburg. It also takes the honor of having one of the biggest collections of material culture in the world. Explore a number of regions, from South America to the Far East, each represented with an assortment of relics encapsulating their distinct culture.
The museum grew out of Peter the Great’s own fascination with amassing trinkets from his travels. He set up a “kunstkammer” or “chamber of art” in 1718 and began filling the collection with the curios he collected. Since then, it has continued to amass pieces from a diverse range of societies, as well as some weird and wonderful attractions.
Stop to look at the building’s Baroque exterior before you enter. The museum’s home since 1738, it was designed by architectural team Mattarnovi and Zemstov to house these anthropological artifacts as well as the Academy of Sciences. Admire the striking blue and white tower, which looks out over the River Neva and the walls, which stretch out across the river bank.
Discover more about indigenous American cultures in the North American and Amazon exhibit. Learn about the history of the Alaskan Sitkha Indians through their masks and carvings. Here, you will even find jaguar tooth jewelry from the Brazilian Amazon’s Bororo Indians. Move on to the Asian exhibits, which include vibrant Vietnamese dress, Buddhist sculptures and Thai ballet costumes. The African collection features traditional Ghanaian clothing and bronze statues from Benin.
Don’t miss the natural science exhibit, which has an intriguing yet macabre collection of deformed human fetuses and other human body parts for public viewing. The objects were sourced from Dutch scientist Frederik Ruysch, and while they are not to everyone’s taste, they still draw curious visitors from all over the world.
The Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography is open every day apart from Mondays and is closed on the final Tuesday of every month. There is an admission fee. Walk to the building from the nearby Admiralteyskaya metro station.