The Museum "The House of Peter I" in Polotsk is associated with the name of the great Russian Tsar-Reformer Peter I. This small museum is located in an old building that served as a temporary residence for Peter I during his visit to Polotsk. Today, the museum is an interesting cultural and historical site.
At the beginning of the 18th century, during the Great Northern War (1700–1721), Peter I visited Polotsk. From here, he commanded troops and resolved organizational issues related to army supplies. Peter I spent three days in Polotsk, from July 12 to 15, 1705. According to historical records, the Tsar stayed in a house on the embankment of the Western Dvina River, which later became known as "The House of Peter I."
The building that now houses the museum was constructed in 1692. It is a typical example of the architecture of that time: a modest, one-story structure with stone walls and a tiled roof.
Both during the time of Tsar Peter I and in the subsequent three centuries, the house remained a residential building. Over the years, it changed many owners. In memory of Tsar Peter I`s visit, a memorial plaque was installed on the wall of the house in 1952. In 1964, a children`s library of Polotsk was opened here, and in 1997, it was decided to turn the building into a museum dedicated to the history of the city.
The main exhibition in the Museum "The House of Peter I" is called "A Walk Along Nizhne-Pokrovskaya Street." This is the main street of Polotsk, which runs through the city center along the embankment of the Western Dvina River. Here, visitors can see what Polotsk looked like in the 19th and 20th centuries and learn about the famous people who lived here.
