House of Peter I

In 1702, Russian carpenters and Dutch shipwrights built a small wooden house at the mouth of the Northern Dvina River specifically for Peter I.

Peter I lived in the House for two summer months waiting for a second siege of Arkhangelsk. At the same time, he supervised the construction of the Novodvinsk fortress and the launching of new ships. Later the House was moved inside the fortress, rebuilt several times, and in 1877 transported to Arkhangelsk.

By 1932, the House became dilapidated and was to be demolished, but thanks to the efforts of Peter Baranovsky, the first director of our Museum-Reserve, it was saved and transported to Kolomenskoe, where it has been situated up to the present day.

A permanent exhibition ‘Builder, sailor, hero…’ composed of authentic objects of the XVI-XVII centuries is on permanent display in the House of Peter I. These days, visitors can take a look at rooms small in size but important in Peter's everyday life: the dining room where he celebrated his saint’s day, the study where he worked, and the sleeping room where he rested.

All this reflects the personality of the Tsar, introduces his diverse interests and illustrates the influence of European traditions on changes in the lifestyle of the royals and the entire Russian society.

Did you know that…

• In the entrance hall of the House there is a nail indicating the height of Peter I — 2 m 4 cm.
• As a child, Peter I wandered among the oaks of Kolomenskoe, and when he grew up, he arranged mock battles in the place where the House now stands.