2004: The inauguration of the displays of the Museum of Heraldry and the Museum of Awards and Decorations in the Konstantinovsky Palace

The palace-and-park ensemble at Strelna was founded in 1715 on the orders of Peter the Great. The construction of the palace, begun in 1720 to a design by the architect Niccolo Michetti, was completed only in the 19th century, when Strelna became the property of grand dukes belonging to the House of the Romanovs. The first was Grand Duke Konstantin, who was presented with the estate in 1797 by his father, Emperor Paul I. This began the “era of the Konstantinovichi” that lasted over a century. During the Second World War the palace building was destroyed. From the post-war period to 1991 it housed the Leningrad Arctic College.

In 1990 the Strelna palace-and-park ensemble was listed as a World Heritage site. The following year an international charitable foundation with the aim of restoring it to life was created. In 2001, by the resolution of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the palace was granted the status of a state complex as “the Palace of Congresses”. In May 2003 the restoration of the palace was completed. In June 2004 the permanent displays of the State Hermitage’s Museum of Heraldry and Museum of Awards and Decorations were inaugurated in the palace.

The Museum of Heraldry reveals the history of the coat of arms as a special complex sign symbolizing and representing an individual, organization, city or state. The greater part of the display is devoted to Russian heraldry - state, family and territorial. The Museum of Heraldry also incorporated the exhibits from the existing display “The State Symbols of Russia”. The history of the Russian state coat of arms is reflected in different depictions, medals, Byzantine and Russian coins, banners, herald’s rods and uniforms.

A remarkable collection of Western European coins from the Hermitage’s stocks reflects the main stages in the evolution of heraldic devices from the time of their first appearance in the middle of the 13th century to the present day. The coins are grouped by country, making it possible to trace the development of state heraldry in England, France, the Holy Roman Empire, Scandinavia and Poland.

The Museum of Awards and Decorations presents awards and decorations of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. They include the first Russian chivalric orders, founded by Peter the Great: the Order of St Andrew the First-Called, the Order of St Catherine (one of the oldest for women in Europe) and the Order of St Alexander Nevsky.

The Order of St George, the Great Martyr and Bringer of Victory, awarded for military feats, became part of the Russian system of awards and decorations in the reign of Catherine II. Examples of weapons given as awards and also St George standards are included in the display.

Visitors to the museum can see items from the order services, drawings of the vestments from the Regulations for the Russian Orders, and commemorative medals issued for major anniversaries of the orders. There are also Russian medals, both military and civilian, spanning the period from Peter the Great to Nicholas II. An important section of the display is made up of Soviet awards and decorations - orders and medals given for military and labour feats. The last room presents state awards and decorations of the Russian Federation, including the revived Orders of St Andrew the First-Called and St George.

The Konstantinovsky Palace
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In the Museum of Heraldry
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In the Museum of Awards and Decorations
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