Details of the upcoming exposition "Geography Lessons" shared on "Russkoye Radio"
"Geography Lessons" is not merely an exposition of historical maps, but a journey across Russia and an immersion in its past. Each item becomes a source of knowledge and unexpected discoveries. Olesya Malevannaya, Head of the Laboratory for Cultural and Educational Projects at the National Centre RUSSIA, shared details of the upcoming project and its key exhibits on air at "Russkoye Radio" ("Russian Radio").
The exposition will open on 3 April at the National Centre RUSSIA. It will bring together unique cartographic materials from the country’s leading collections. Visitors will see original maps, atlases, globes, and archival documents from the collections of the Russian State Library, the Russian Geographical Society, the archives of the Ministry of Defence, the State Historical Museum, as well as leading universities and research centres.
"'Geography Lessons' consists of eight halls. The exposition reveals the process of exploring territories and the development of our country. In particular, it will feature the unique mosaic panel 'Industry of Socialism'. It was created in 1937 for the World Exhibition in Paris, where it received the Grand Prix. It was later exhibited in New York. This is an extraordinary work that everyone should see," explained Olesya Malevannaya.
The panel, covering more than 26 square metres, is an exact physical and geographical map of the USSR at a scale of 1:1,500,000. It is an outstanding example of stone-cutting artistry and technical mastery. More than 600 craftsmen took part in its creation, and tens of thousands of stone pieces were used to assemble the mosaic.
"The exposition is a must-see. The 'Geography Classroom' location will be designed as an authentic school interior in the style of the 1960s–1970s. Visitors will see the familiar Erismann desks from primary school — the ones with a hinged lid. You stand up to greet the teacher — everything is arranged just as it used to be. Visitors will be able to sit at the desks and recall that feeling," she said.
She added that visitors will be able to "speak" with great Russian scientists. For example, with the help of artificial intelligence, Pyotr Petrovich Semyonov-Tyan-Shansky, as well as other scientists and explorers, will answer visitors’ questions.
One of the locations of the exposition "Geography Lessons" is dedicated to space. Olesya Malevannaya noted that it is being created in partnership with the Roscosmos State Corporation. Visitors will be able to learn about modern space technologies and see how domestic research and development are evolving.
"There were no maps in the past, and the first explorers were sailors. They navigated by the stars, created navigation charts, and followed the North Star. In this hall, visitors will see a huge screen. If you lie down on the floor, you can observe the stars. This is one of the many highlights of the exposition <...> This year we mark the anniversary of Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin’s first space flight. And at our exposition, visitors will once again hear the word 'Let’s go!'," she added.
The exposition is designed for a broad family audience, primarily schoolchildren aged 9–16 and their parents. Interactive exhibits, educational modules, and visual narratives have been prepared for children to help them explore the work of geographers and researchers in an engaging way.
The "Expedition" hall will feature a model of the sloop "Nadezhda" ("Hope"), on which Ivan Kruzenshtern undertook the first Russian circumnavigation. A small "resident" lives on board — a mouse that will share stories and quotes from the diaries of the expedition participants.
Visitors will also see a carriage brought from Tsarskoye Selo, as well as wooden sledges from the Arkhangelsk region. There will also be a model of a future high-speed rail train. According to her, these exhibits will show how people travelled in the past and how they will travel in the near future.
"A map is a kind of photograph. The entire exposition is structured as a large photo album of the Earth we live on. This is our legacy. Here we see ourselves and our country from above, through the lens of cartography," concluded the Head of the Laboratory for Cultural and Educational Projects at the National Centre RUSSIA.
The general partner of the exposition is the Russian Geographical Society. The exposition partners include the Russian State Library, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the State Historical Museum, the Polytechnic Museum, the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, the Federal Archival Agency, the Central Naval Library, and other leading institutions. The technology partner is VK.
You can register for a free guided tour on the website of the National Centre RUSSIA. Follow updates in the "Events" section.
