The Central Naval Museum in St. Petersburg, one of the first museums in the city, was founded in 1709 by Peter the Great. Its collection holds about 700,000 items reflecting the history of the domestic navy, making it the largest cultural heritage monument in the world. The museum is listed as a site of global significance. The ship exhibition, with around 2,000 exhibits, is comparable in scale to the British Museum. The Central Naval Museum attracts tourists and naval history researchers, with daily tours available for all.

The history of the museum's creation begins in 1709 when Peter the Great established the Model Chamber by decree for storing drawings and models of ships. Over time, the collection expanded, and in 1805, Alexander I opened the Naval Museum, which became a global center for the study of shipbuilding history in 1867. In 1908, for its 200th anniversary, the museum was named after Peter the Great.

An interesting fact: one of the most valuable exhibits is Peter's boat, on which he sailed on Lake Pleshcheyevo, dreaming of Russia's access to the Baltic Sea. This boat is called the "Grandfather of the Russian Fleet," the first military vessel built using Western technologies.

After the Bolsheviks came to power, the museum received its modern name, and the building of the former Stock Exchange was transferred for its needs. After World War II, the exhibition expanded, and branches were opened, including the first exhibit ship, the "Aurora." In 2013, the museum moved to the building of the Naval Barracks, and in 2014, on Navy Day, the grand opening of new galleries took place, including 19 halls.

Among the exhibits, you can see personal belongings of famous domestic military figures, including the weapons of Nakhimov and Makarov. Works of art by Aivazovsky, Bryullov, and Klodt are also presented.

During the traditional naval parade in St. Petersburg, the museum becomes the center of the celebration, attracting many visitors and high-ranking officials. At the same time, educational work is carried out, including courses for children, immersing them in the atmosphere of naval romance.

The museum's exhibition includes scaled models of ships and submarines, marine-themed paintings, important documents of the era, and a model of a fighter jet. In the 19 halls of the museum, various historical periods of the Russian navy are represented:

- Hall of Glory of the Russian Fleet;
- Russian Imperial Navy;
- Exhibitions on the Russo-Japanese conflict;
- Recreation of the domestic Navy;
- Collections on World War I and the Civil War;
- Soviet Navy in the interwar period;
- Exhibitions on the Navy's participation in World War II;
- Exhibitions on the fleets of the USSR;
- Navy of the Russian Federation.

Particular attention is drawn to the collection of banners and flags, including originals and scaled copies of military standards. The fund also holds a large collection of coins and banknotes dedicated to the navy, as well as commemorative stamps featuring ships.

The abundance of exhibits has led to the opening of six additional branches, four of which are located in the Leningrad region.

An interesting fact: the museum actively engages in scientific activities related to the events of World War II and has a large scientific library, restoration workshops, and screens historical films.

Among the branches:

- The cruiser "Aurora," a symbol of the communist revolution, has served as a floating base for submarines of the Baltic Fleet since 1934 and is a site of global significance;
- The Kronstadt Fortress, a place of military glory for the Soviet Navy during World War II, never captured by the enemy;
- The memorial complex "Submarine Narodovolec," dedicated to the heroism of the crew of Marinesco;
- The "Road of Life" on Lake Ladoga, associated with the blockade of Leningrad;
- The Baltic Fleet Museum in Kaliningrad, with a collection covering 300 years of naval history;
- The ship of military glory "Mikhail Kutuzov" in Novorossiysk, telling the story of the Black Sea Fleet.