Among all the dust, obsessive noise, din, streams of people, cars, a maze of streets, gray skies and nights without stars in every city there are places where not only hipsters or connoisseurs of exceptionally high, real will appreciate it. However, finding such places is not so easy, especially in a large and unfriendly Moscow. Fortunately, we can not be discoverers. Such a wonderful burst of light (namely light) on a gray day will be a visit to the "Lights of Moscow". This place has repeatedly received the title of one of the best museums in our capital. In addition, “Moscow Lights” is a very unusual museum. In it, you definitely will not yawn, listening to the monotonous story of the guide. On the contrary, it will inspire you, set you in a romantic mood. So, let's go on a journey through this unusual temple of history - not trivial like the hall of fame of one artist or commander. This is something completely new …
History story
Moscow Lights - the museum itself is very unusual. Starting from the fact that it is located in real white-stone chambers, which are already more than two hundred years old, they are of historical value and are part of the very old Moscow - at least from the time of the Song of the Merchant Kalashnikov …. This museum is dedicated to the history of lighting fixtures, starting with arches that smoldered with smiles in the huts of our great-great-great-grandmothers, and ending with the most modern bulbs that not everyone can find and which can surprise any technician, not to mention ordinary people who don’t to attention bulbs: light - what else is needed? But, despite the fact that the bulbs are the prose of life, the light is still something special. And it all started with the fact that in nineteen eighty in this same building, on the ground floor, several exhibits appeared. The exhibition devoted to the history of lighting was visited by many people. And they decided to fix the exhibition at this place. And so the museum “Moscow Lights” was born. He only celebrates his birthday on World Museums Day, which falls on the eighteenth of May. And there is no special reason for joy — a holiday every day in this house.
What to look at?
Museum of Light "Moscow Lights" pleasantly surprises from the very beginning. In a cozy courtyard, old lanterns are sheltered, simply breathing the mood of the old city, an era that has forever passed. The museum is divided into several rooms. All of them are small and comfortable. In one you can learn about the history of lighting, in the other you can be surprised at human ingenuity, admiring the bulbs of different stages of history, of different colors, sizes, durations of work, etc. One of the rooms is reserved for the hall where the electric clock is displayed. Anyway, the “Lights of Moscow” is a museum that gives a new vision of the city even for indigenous people, luminaries of museums and exhibitions. Indeed, the museum has photographs of the views of the capital that will not leave anyone indifferent. And thanks to the exposed control panels, created in a more modern period, you can feel like a real employee working for the good of the city. After all, they are workers, so you can press the buttons and right here in the museum, see how everything around is transformed when the lights of a big city are lit under your leadership. There is also a laboratory - a find for all creative people, as well as schoolchildren, physicists, chemists, historians … However, about the laboratory - for dessert, as about the most amazing part of the museum. You can touch the story - literally. After all, the museum has a collection of unique household items that you can touch with your hands.
Museum tours … and more
As already mentioned, the main thing that “Lights of Moscow” “hooks on” is that the museum is extremely atmospheric. It seems that the whole mood of the capital of the eighteenth to nineteenth centuries lives in it. An excursion to the Moscow Lights Museum is a good idea for an evening out. It does not take more than two hours of your time. You can take an excursion during which you will be guided through all the expositions and told about the history of Moscow lamps (after all, they occupy a central place). Yes, you can take a picture, the benefit of lights and billboards look very impressive. Those wishing to practice English or foreigners will also have something to see, and most importantly, listen. After all, excursions are conducted in this foreign language. True, such a pleasure would cost a little more. There is also a more extended version of the tour with stories about illumination in imperial times and so on. Very little time will be spent on visiting only one thematic exhibition - up to half an hour. And you can order a tour of Moscow at night - on foot or by bus. Moreover, the first is much more romantic, because the guide stops at every little thing that resembles the old city. Yes, and you go with lanterns, and this solemn bright procession to the famous and historical lanterns cannot be overlooked. But on the bus you will see more attractions. The duration of the excursion on wheels is up to five hours with a visit to the museum. You can also leave a request for any tour you are interested in.
Laboratory
This is the most attractive place in the whole museum. Here you can apply your knowledge from physics and chemistry, history and technology, to understand how this or that mechanism associated with lighting works. Yes, they will teach you to choose the right bulb. In addition, you can learn to draw with fluorescent paints or make your own candle - step by step, right up to painting. You will enjoy the fact that you can understand the work of such a technique and do something of your own.
"LIGHT CHILDHOOD"
This project is dedicated to working with special children. Children in general are the most welcome visitors to the museum, where there are practically no restrictions for them. Many other projects were aimed specifically at working with children, and small visitors were satisfied.
Student activities
The Moscow Lights Museum receives only good reviews. These are enthusiastic responses from people of all ages, but above all from children. The organization conducts all kinds of classes for children, mainly elementary grades. In these lessons, they will get acquainted not only with lanterns and candles, but also with the traditions of their own country, the history of familiar things and the development of art. Master classes are also held. In the museum you can throw a theme party for younger students for the New Year or birthday. The whole family will be delighted with visiting the museum.
Museum Hours
It is best to come to this museum in the evening. Why? The schedule allows you - after all, this institution works, opening one hour before noon, until six in the evening, and on Thursdays - up to eight - and this is all seven days a week in the fall, spring, and winter. But in June, July, August, the entrance is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Excursion groups are available from nine in the morning until seven in the evening. So, if you are sure that explanations are useless (shop windows are accompanied by inscriptions), then the evening is an ideal time, since you will not have to face groups of schoolchildren, noisy, curious, trying to touch everything. It should be noted that the museum does not work on major holidays, in particular on Victory Day.
Ticket price
On average, the price of an excursion for a group of schoolchildren will be from two thousand rubles. But adults who visit the museum alone will pay about seventy rubles for admission. Children, as well as pensioners, will have to pay even less - thirty rubles. Preschoolers are allowed free admission. It should also be remembered that the price depends on the saturation of the program. Not a simple tour, but, for example, a performance, a theme party will cost more. You should also consider gifts and souvenirs that may be attached to the holidays for children.
Museum Address
Ostrovsky also considered Zamoskvorechye, considered Columbus in this region. Long since merchants lived in this quiet, patriarchal place. And now the museum "Moscow Lights" lives here. The address is as follows: Lane Armenian, house 3-5, building 1. Many writers worked near this place. In addition, embassies of the Republic of Belarus and Armenia are located in the same lane. The great Russian poet Tyutchev was inextricably linked with this lane. Here are the chambers of Miloslavskys - those same white-stone ones, within the walls of which there is now a museum of light. And also during the Patriotic War of 1812, a significant part of the Diaspora of Armenians was in this place. And when Moscow was burned, it was thanks to the inhabitants of Nikolsky (former name) lane that part of the city survived. Therefore, the entire district is of value to historians and patriots, and above all, the Moscow Lights Museum.
How to get to the place?
Thanks to the subway, you don’t have to scour the areas of the city in search of that very building. Moscow Lights is a museum that is easy to reach. Just get off the Chistye Prudy, Kitay-Gorod, Lubyanka or Turgenevskaya stations. And then on foot. If you are provided with a bicycle or a car and want to admire the city, and not hustle in the subway car, then from Pokrovka move to Devyatkin, and then to Sverchkov lanes. And soon the museum will appear before you in all its glory.
