"The borders of our country never end": "Geography Lessons" to be held at the National Centre RUSSIA

In April, the National Centre RUSSIA will present a new exposition project, "Geography Lessons" — a large-scale journey across the map of a civilisation-state whose borders, as President Vladimir Putin once remarked, "never end." The exposition is dedicated to the thousand-year history of the country’s spatial development and shows how geography shaped Russia as a unified territory and a shared home for many peoples, cultures and languages.

Across several thousand square metres of the National Centre RUSSIA, visitors will see authentic historic maps, political and thematic atlases, digital models, globes, and maritime and astronomical instruments. All exhibits come from the collections of the Russian State Library, the Russian Geographical Society, the archives of the Ministry of Defence, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, and other institutions.

"Geography Lessons" is directly aligned with the objectives of the Strategy of the State National Policy of Russia until 2036, approved by Presidential Decree — strengthening the unity of the peoples of the country, the state-forming role of the Russian people, and a shared civic identity while preserving ethnocultural and linguistic diversity. The exposition demonstrates how a shared territory, common economic interests, unified governance and spiritual values have for centuries shaped the integrated space of the Russian state.

The project also serves as a visual illustration of the President’s words that patriotism, a sense of belonging to the destiny of the Motherland and responsibility for its future arise from knowledge of the country’s history and geography, as well as its cultural and natural heritage. The eight halls of the exposition form eight chapters of a larger narrative: about Russia’s lands and borders, seas and rivers, routes and roads, resources, and about how the country is seen from abroad and how it positions itself on the map of the world.

The route begins in the entrance gallery of historic maps of Russia, where visitors can see how the country’s borders changed over the centuries. Visitors then move into the space devoted to exploration, dedicated to Russian pioneers and explorers, and continue along the country’s routes — from early trade paths and postal roads to high-speed transport corridors that have connected the vast territory of the country. From earthly expanses, the narrative turns to the starry sky: a separate hall explores outer space and the history of space exploration. Another section — the hall of Russia’s natural wealth — is a particular source of pride for our country.

The geography classroom will take visitors back to childhood and the school years. The exposition also invites guests of the National Centre RUSSIA to see how Russia has been portrayed abroad. The final hall tells the story of how the country has defended its borders and protected its interests over the centuries. Various maps and caricatures will be displayed there.

The curator of the project, Semyon Mikhaylovsky, emphasises: "This exposition is, in essence, a story about the land on which we are destined to live while developing its immense riches; about natural diversity, resources, the discovery of new territories, routes and roads, seas and rivers, celestial bodies, and about how others see us and how we see ourselves in the space of the globe."

The exposition is designed for a family audience and for schoolchildren aged 9–16. Partners of "Geography Lessons" include the Russian Geographical Society, the Russian State Library, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, the Federal Archival Agency, the Central Naval Library, and other organisations.