PHOTO: view of the Romanov Memorial Hall in the Museum of History and Archaeology of the Urals, a branch of the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in Ekaterinburg

In the days leading up to this years Tsar’s Days events the Romanov Memorial Hall – which is currently located in the Museum of History and Archaeology of the Urals – will be moved to the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore in Ekaterinburg.

On 14th July 2023, the museum will present a new permanent exhibition “The House of the Romanovs and the Urals” dedicated to the stay of Emperor Nicholas II and his family during their house arrest in the Ural city from April to July 1918.

According to the head of the public relations department of the museum Tatyana Mosunova, items from the museum’s funds, one way or another connected with the Imperial Family, will be exhibited. Among them is a unique sculpture of Alexander III by Kasli Foundries, the last time this figure was exhibited was more than a hundred years ago.

PHOTO: the former Poklevsky-Kozell mansion will be the new venue for the Romanov Memorial Hall in Ekaterinburg

According to Mosunova, the exhibition will be transferred to the 19th century Poklevsky-Kozell mansion on Malyshev Street. Local historians will help in creating an exhibition space, an agreement with the Ural State University based on the consultations of experts from the Museum of History and Archaeology of the Urals.

The General Director of the museum Alexander Emelyanov explained that the new exhibition will be extensive and will occupy five halls. The museum believes that the organization of the permanent exhibition will help both locals and visitors to the city to have a better understanding of the final days of Russia’s last Imperial Family in the Ural capital.

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My Visit to the Romanov Memorial Hall in June 2016

PHOTO: a miniature copy of Zurab Tsereteli’s sculpture, “Night at the Ipatiev House” greets visitors to the Romanov Memorial Hall

Situated at Ulitsa Lenina 69/10 is the Museum of History and Archaeology of the Urals, a branch of the Sverdlovsk Regional Museum. From the street, the museum resembles one of the hideous buildings from the Soviet era – but if you blink, you may miss it! Admission is 200 rubles, an additional fee is charged if you want to take photographs. One must climb a steep circular staircase to reach the Romanov Memorial Hall on the 4th floor. The ascent is definitely worth it!

A miniature copy of Zurab Tsereteli’s sculpture, “Night at the Ipatiev House” greets visitors at the entrance to the hall.

The Romanov Memorial Hall was opened in 2006. The exposition tells of the Romanov dynasty during the reign of Emperor Nicholas II (1894-1917), the tragic events of 17 July 1918 and secret burial of the remains of the royal family.

This is a very interesting museum, as it contains personal items of Nicholas II, his family and their retainers, discovered in the Ipatiev House by the White Army. It also contains many elements of decor, decoration and fittings salvaged from the Ipatiev House before its demolition in September 1977, notably the cast iron fireplace from the dining room, and the iron grille from the window of the murder room.

PHOTO: scale model of the Ipatiev House -renamed House of Special Purpose by the Bolsheviks – on permanent display in the ‘Romanov Memorial Hall’

Aside from the items from the Ipatiev House, are many additional exhibits of interest, including a scale model of the Ipatiev House; the reconstructed model of Nicholas II’s head by Russian forensic expert Dr. Sergei Nikitin; the Mauser pistol which belonged to the murderer Pyotr Ermakov; a portrait of Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel (the future Queen of Denmark), maternal grandmother of Nicholas II, which formerly hung in the study of Emperor Alexander III in the Anichkov Palace in St. Petersburg.

The exposition further explores the history of the investigation of the murder case of the last of the Romanovs in the Urals, which lasted more than 100 years.

It is interesting to note that the hundreds of exhibits on display in the glass display cases in the Romanov Memorial Hall include descriptions in both Russian and English – a rarity in Russian museums.

A small adjacent room contains a photo exhibit dedicated to Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich and his secretary Brian Johnston. Efforts to locate their remains near Perm are ongoing by the S.E.A.R.C.H. Foundation.

© Paul Gilbert. 11 July 2023