"To feel the scale and greatness of the Motherland": visitors on the exposition "Geography Lessons"
Schoolchildren, teachers and other visitors who have already explored the eight thematic halls of the new exposition "Geography Lessons" at the National Centre RUSSIA are sharing their impressions. Here, guests can not only observe but also touch, play and marvel at the scale, and truly fall in love with their country.
A young teacher, Nikita Demidov, travelled to the capital from Saint Petersburg. He noted not only the monumental nature of the exposition as a whole, but also the careful thought behind each hall.
"The exposition is very interesting and large-scale, and the guide explained everything step by step from the very beginning. I say this with one hundred percent confidence: if my friends are in Moscow, this will definitely be one of the places I recommend. I want them to feel the full scale and greatness of our Motherland as well," said Nikita Demidov.
The guest from the northern capital added that he will tell not only his friends but also his students about the exposition: "In the past, I was a professional athlete, and now I am a judo coach and teacher. My students are very young now, but I hope that when we come to Moscow for competitions, our visits will include cultural activities besides sport. I will certainly make sure that we will visit this exposition as part of one of them."
A Moscow schoolboy, Misha, visited the National Centre RUSSIA with his mother. He is used to learning from school lessons and books, and did not expect the exposition to become a source of new and engaging discoveries.
"I really enjoy reading and learning new things. I hope my school teacher won't be sad to hear what I say, but this exposition has been the best geography lesson of my life," the young visitor admitted.
Rare exhibits from the country's greatest museums, interactive zones, and even a planetarium — all this inspires not just interest, but genuine pride in the country, noted Maria Panova from the urban locality of Nakhabino near Moscow.
"I am simply overwhelmed with pride! And there is also this incredible sense of scale… it made me want to start singing 'Wide is my Motherland'," she shared.
Seventeen-year-old Dmitry and his friend came to the exposition out of pure curiosity — they were intrigued by its title. Initially sceptical about the idea of "lessons", they quickly realised they had been mistaken.
"I thought it would be boring, but it turns out geography can be so interesting. Now I want to learn even more about how our country is organised," he said.
The exposition named "Geography Lessons" is a true journey through the centuries — from ancient scrolls to digital maps, from the first geographical discoveries to the exploration of space. Each of the eight thematic halls presents engaging stories of discoveries, expeditions, scientific achievements and the development of territories. Schoolchildren can feel like explorers, learn to read maps, and understand the scale of the country not only intellectually but also emotionally.
At the heart of the exposition are rare cartographic materials from the collections of the Russian State Library, the State Historical Museum, the Central Naval Library, the Polytechnic Museum, as well as leading Russian archives, universities and research centres. These include antique maps and atlases, educational publications, globes of the Earth and other planets, and books that shaped the understanding of the world for generations of explorers.
The new exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA is aimed at families and schoolchildren aged 9 to 16. Admission is free.
On Monday, 13 April, the National Centre RUSSIA will hold a maintenance day.
