Arctic and Antarctic Museum, Polar exploration museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The Arctic and Antarctic Museum is a museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, dedicated to polar exploration. It displays ships, scientific instruments, photographs, and objects collected from expeditions across both polar regions.
The museum was established in 1930 as part of a Soviet research institute for Arctic studies. It relocated to a former church building from the 1820s, where it remains today.
The museum's name reflects Russia's deep connection to polar exploration as a defining part of national identity. Visitors encounter personal belongings and correspondence that show how explorers understood their journeys and their bond with these remote lands.
The museum is near Vladimirskaya metro station and is open Wednesday through Sunday. Plan your visit for daytime hours and bring a camera if you want to document what you see, though some areas may have restrictions.
The museum preserves a small aircraft from 1934 that played a role in a famous polar rescue mission. This plane was crucial in bringing stranded crew members back to safety from the ice.
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