The Russian Ethnographic Museum in St. Petersburg is dedicated to the culture and everyday life of the peoples of the world, showcasing their wealth and diversity. It carefully preserves ancient traditions and constantly updates its collections, earning the title of the "ethnographic Hermitage."

Its predecessor was the ethnographic department of the Russian Museum, founded in 1895 at the initiative of artist and traveler Samuel Dudin-Martsinkevich. That year, Emperor Nicholas II ordered the creation of the Russian Museum named after Alexander III in the Mikhailovsky Palace, which included three departments: memorial, artistic, and ethnographic, where the first exhibits began to arrive.

As the collection grew, the need for expanded space arose. The competition for the construction of a separate building for the ethnographic department was won by architect V.F. Svinyin. He oversaw the reconstruction of the Mikhailovsky Palace and the construction of a new building on Engineer Street, which became the first in Russia specifically built for museum exhibitions. Construction began in 1903 and was completed in 1911, with the museum finally ready for operation in 1916. However, due to the revolution, the museum opened to visitors only in 1923.

In 1924, the museum suffered from flooding that submerged the basements containing 100,000 unique exhibits. It was not until 1929 that it was restored. In the 20th century, the museum experienced difficult times: repression of staff, war, and blockade, during which the building was partially destroyed and many exhibits lost. In 1948, the museum reopened and received a new name, the State Museum of Ethnography of the Peoples of the USSR. In the 1970s, it became a scientific research center, organizing expeditions and enriching its collections with unique exhibits.

The architecture of the museum, executed in neoclassical style, corresponds to the theme of the exhibitions. The facade is adorned with coats of arms and symbols of science and art. In 1910, a sculpture of the goddess Athena was installed on the portico. The museum's main door, made of oak and decorated with bronze details, commands respect for this "temple of science."

The central place in the museum is occupied by the Marble Hall, lined with pink Karelian marble. The hall is decorated with 28 monumental columns and was conceived as a memorial to Alexander III. Today, exhibitions and conferences are held here.

In the right wing of the museum is the Special Depository, where gifts to the Romanov family and unique items are stored, including weapons and Buddhist drums. All exhibits hold historical and artistic value.

The museum offers exhibitions dedicated to the culture of various peoples, as well as a collection of photographs and works of art. The museum's scientific library, with 110,000 publications, is the largest in the field of ethnography. Since 2021, the museum has operated a Center for Craft Traditions, offering lectures and courses on decorative and applied arts.