Pushkin museum on Moika in St.Petersburg

The family of Pushkin had lived in the house of Princess Sophia Volkonskaya near the Konyushenny Bridge on the Moika since September 12, 1836. They occupied 11 rooms on the first floor. It is there that the tragic event happened – the death of Pushkin on January 29,1837 after the fatal duel with d`Anthès at the Chernaya (Black) river.

The Pushkins always rented large apartments as the family was big. They lived with two sisters of Natalia Goncharova (Catherine and Alexandra), four children and over 10 servants. Pushkin usually rented an apartment from the beginning of autumn to the end of spring. They lived at their dacha in Tsarskoye Selo in summer. As they often moved the Pushkins had few personal belongings and only the most necessary furniture.

After the death of Pushkin Natalia Goncharova immediately moved from this apartment to her parents. Although afterwards the house often changed owners it was almost at once decided to open there a memorial museum apartment of А. S. Pushkin. The furnishing of the apartment was reconstructed based on the descriptions of contemporaries and preserved documents in the 60th of the past century. The interior of the library where the wounded Pushkin lay on the sofa was reconstructed with a particular precision.

At the museum one can see such original things as the desk and arm-chair of the poet, as well as the sofa where he died. There one can also see his traveling chest and writing cabinet, walking sticks, smoking pipe and inkpot with a Negro child. In the room of Natalia Goncharova one can see her very famous portrait painted by Bryullov in 1832, as well a phial of perfume, coral bracelet, beaded purses and some other things.

There is another museum devoted to the creative work of the poet at the same house: «А. S. Pushkin. Life and Creative Work». But it would be better to visit it after the memorial museum apartment.