See Where the Revolution Began

Today the Krasnopresnenskaya neighborhood is best known as the home of the White House. But in the early 20th century, it was the center of revolutionary activity in Moscow. Several large factories dominated the area, and the workers employed there were early converts to the philosophy that raised up the proletariat. They were at the forefront of the revolts in Moscow in 1905, building barricades and fending off tsarist troops. Their sacrifices are memorialized in the area's modern street names -- Barrikadnaya, Ulitsa 1905 Goda and Krasnaya Presnya -- as well as at the Museum of Krasnaya Presnya.

The museum has an interesting collection of original photographs from the early 20th century, along with a large map of Moscow showing the strongholds of the tsarist forces and the revolutionaries, some original clothing from the era and a printing machine. But the highlight of the museum is its diorama -- the biggest in Europe. While the center of the action is a barricade, what makes it interesting is the view of pre-Revolutionary Moscow it provides, with no apartment buildings and innumerable church bell towers.

The museum was founded in 1924, in a small wooden house where the local Bolshevik committee met. It moved into a larger space next door in 1975, but still maintains the original house.

Museum of Krasnaya Presnya 4 Bolshoi Predtechensky Pereulok tel. 252-3035 M. Krasnopresnenskaya Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed the last Friday of the month.