Archeological Museum of Moscow

Inaugurated in 1997, the Moscow Archeological Museum traces the history of the city with displays of artifacts dating back as far as the 12th century AD. Situated in a specially renovated underground venue on the edge of Manezhnaya Square, the museum's highlight is undoubtedly a substantial section of the limestone arches of the Voskresensky Bridge, which once spanned the Neglina River from the Bely Gorod quarter to the Resurrection Gate of Red Square. The Neglina River once circled the Kremlin and the Kitai Gorod area of the city center but was eventually channeled underneath it in Catherine the Great's time. The bridge was uncovered during excavations carried out during the construction of the impressive new shopping mall under Manezhnaya Square. During the same excavations evidence was found of dwellings that had existed on the far bank of the river, fragments of which can also be see in the museum. The permanent collection of museum contains archeological artifacts found all over the center of Moscow, including ancient earrings and necklaces from the 12th century (when Moscow was founded), some 15th century Spanish doubloons that were unearthed in the Kitai Gorod area and Muscovite coins from throughout the history of the city.