Russia – My History park opens in Perm

A festive opening of the Russia – My History park took place in Perm yesterday, on the national Constitution Day. The regional multimedia complex is a part of an extensive cultural, patriotic and educational project being carried out across Russia by the Patriarchal Council for Culture and the Foundation for Humanitarian Projects with the backing of Gazprom. The event was attended by Maxim Reshetnikov, Governor of the Perm Territory, Metropolitan Mefody of Perm and Kungur, Igor Tsvetkov, Chief Federal Inspector for the Perm Territory, Valery Golubev, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, Alexey Mironov, Head of the Sverdlovsk Railway (subsidiary of Russian Railways), representatives of the regional authorities and NGOs, college students, and schoolchildren.

The opening ceremony started on the platform of the Perm I railway station with the arrival of a vintage train and a theatrical display about daily life in the 19th century. In his greeting to the guests, the Perm Governor spoke about the features of the exhibition.

“According to experts, our exhibition is unique for having the largest local history component. It is not just about our country but also about our region and the links between its history and the Russian history. Another unique feature of our multimedia complex is that it occupies historical buildings in Perm. By opening the exhibition, we aim to make our history accessible to as many people from the capital city and the region as possible, so that these rooms would always be crowded and filled with happy voices,” said Maxim Reshetnikov.

The Russia – My History park in Perm, spanning more than 3,000 square meters, occupies two historical buildings regarded as architectural landmarks. The Perm I railway station is home to a historical display on the Rurikids period, while the two floors of the Rechnoy riverside station, situated across the road, host displays devoted to the Romanovs dynasty and two other periods: “1917–1945. From Great Upheavals to the Great Victory” and “Russia – My History. 1945–2016.” The exhibition is structured around 42 topics. As suggested by the Governor, the historic park will be a permanent educational platform for lessons, electives, and lectures.

Perm schoolchildren became the first visitors of the historical park, viewing a demonstration of cutting-edge equipment, such as touch-sensitive screens and lightboxes, and trying their hand at the video infographics, animation, 3D modeling and digital reconstruction tools available in the new museum format.

“It is a great honor for Gazprom and for the many thousands of our employees to participate in such a significant and truly national project. Working in almost every corner of our large, multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, we see the great need to understand and know the path we find ourselves on. We have much to be proud of. Still, one should know national history and study history. Such is the purpose of this project,” said Valery Golubev, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.