The F.M. Dostoevsky Museum is located in the writer's last apartment on Kuznechny Lane in St. Petersburg. Here he lived with his family for two years and four months, writing the second volume of "The Brothers Karamazov."

History of the Building

The stone four-story house No. 5 on Kuznechny Lane was built in the early 19th century and completely remodeled in 1849. By the mid-19th century, it belonged to the wife of merchant of the second guild Fyodor Klinkostrem. The house had 29 apartments rented to middle-class tenants, and on the lower floors, there were a bakery and a dairy shop. In the yard, there were sheds and stables, and nearby, a wine cellar. The house was not considered prestigious, and lawyer Anatoly Koni recalled that Dostoevsky lived in an unpretentious place.

The building of the future Dostoevsky Museum was constructed without decorative elements, like a typical apartment building of that time. During the Soviet era, it was converted into communal apartments.

Kuznechny Lane leads to Vladimir Square, where several streets and avenues converge. The square was often called "six corners." Nearby is the Church of the Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God, which Dostoevsky frequently visited. The writer always sought to rent housing near the church or with a view of it.

The House During Dostoevsky's Lifetime

Dostoevsky first rented two rooms in this house in 1846 when he was starting his literary career. The windows of the apartment overlooked the Vladimir Church. The move occurred a month before the publication of "The Double" in "The Contemporary." Dostoevsky hoped for success and an improvement in his financial situation, but the story was criticized for its fantastical elements and imitation of Gogol.

Soon the writer moved to cheaper housing on Brick Lane. The main character of "The Double," Mr. Goladykin, also lived in an apartment building reminiscent of the apartments where Dostoevsky resided. Before his arrest in 1849, he managed to publish many works.

Thirty-three years later, as a recognized writer, Dostoevsky returned to Kuznechny Lane. Behind him were hard labor, life abroad, complicated relationships with creditors, and his brother's family.

Anna Dostoevskaya recalled that she and her husband moved to a new apartment in 1878 after the death of their three-year-old son Alexei. Before that, the family lived at 6 Greek Avenue. The Dostoevskys frequently changed apartments due to financial problems or trips abroad. In St. Petersburg, the writer rented housing in almost thirty houses.

The apartment on Kuznechny was more spacious and comfortable than the previous one. Dostoevsky had almost paid off his debts and could afford the rent. The housing consisted of six rooms, a storage room for books, an entrance hall, and a kitchen. The children's room was shared by the two children, and the writer did not have a personal bedroom. Apartment No. 10 was located on the second floor.

Seven windows of the apartment overlooked Kuznechny Lane. Here, Dostoevsky nearly completed "The Writer's Diary" for January 1881 and "The Brothers Karamazov." He worked mainly at night and went to bed at dawn. The famous Pushkin speech was written in the study on Kuznechny Lane.

The writer received a variety of visitors: from literary figures and critics to beggars who came for alms. Anna Grigorievna recalled how one of these visitors stole a fur coat.

In this apartment, Dostoevsky died in 1881. The artist Kramskoy painted a portrait of the deceased. From here, the body was taken to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg.

Dostoevsky bequeathed to be buried at Novodevichy Cemetery, where Nekrasov rests. However, this was too expensive, and the family accepted the offer of the lavra's rector.

According to contemporaries, for several days the doors of apartment No. 10 remained open, and the writer's admirers came to say goodbye. A crowd of ten thousand accompanied the funeral procession to the lavra.

Creation of the First Museum

After her husband's death, the writer's widow began to work on creating a museum. In 1892, she organized the first exhibition at the Historical Museum in Moscow. This place is considered the first Dostoevsky museum, opened on the tenth anniversary of his death. The exhibition was visited by Emperor Alexander III. Anna Grigorievna donated the study furniture from the apartment in St. Petersburg to the museum, which is why it was often called "Dostoevsky's Study." In 1906, the collection was supplemented with 4,232 items.

The writer's widow actively filled the museum with new exhibits, buying foreign translations and collecting newspaper clippings. She died in 1918, leaving a rich collection dedicated to the life of the classic.

The Museum in the Last Apartment

In St. Petersburg, a memorial plaque was installed on the house on Kuznechny Lane in 1956. The Soviet government had a cool attitude towards Dostoevsky's legacy but did not prohibit it. Later, the building underwent major repairs, and in 1971, the Dostoevsky apartment was opened as a museum.

The majority of the museum's collection consisted of items donated by the writer's grandson Andrei Dostoevsky. The exhibition recreated the atmosphere of life at the end of the 19th century based on photographs and memories. Furniture, paintings, lamps, and other interior items were selected.

The museum occupies three floors, including the basement. The entrance has also changed: it is now located at the corner of Dostoevsky Street.

There are few authentic items from the family in the museum: vases bought in Germany, a decanter, the writer's felt hat, a spoon, and a bell. In the study, there are a pen, a wallet, and a box from pills. The icon of the Dostoevskys in a silver cover has been preserved. The clock belonging to the writer's brother is set to the time of Dostoevsky's death, and they are also an exhibit. A significant part of the legacy was lost during the revolution and civil war, including letters and manuscripts of the novels "Demons," "The Adolescent," and "The Brothers Karamazov."

The literary exhibition in St. Petersburg includes 272 manuscripts of the writer, numerous lifetime editions, and illustrations.

There are plans to attach a building to the museum for lectures, exhibitions, theatrical performances, and an interactive library. The project budget is 650 million rubles. This space could become a venue for lovers of Dostoevsky's creativity.

Many streets in St. Petersburg are associated with Dostoevsky's name. For example, the Engineering School where he studied was located in Mikhailovsky Castle; on Vladimir Avenue, he lived in 1842 and 1845. He visited V.G. Belinsky on Nevsky Avenue, and on Lithuanian Avenue, he wrote the novel "The Adolescent."