Historical Museum of Wax Figures

About museum

Growing public interest in celebrities and the desire to feel close to them led to the creation of the so‑called round sculpture — wax figures. This art originated in ancient Greece and Rome, and in Italy artists were the first to create wax likenesses of famous people even during their lifetimes. In the 18th century this art appeared in Russia as well, when Peter I brought a wax head into the country. In the 19th century several Russian cities had wax figure museums. After the October Revolution this art was forgotten, but in 1990 an exhibition with 19 wax figures was held in St. Petersburg. Today the museum contains over 2,000 exhibits across themed exhibitions, including biblical scenes, heroes from fantasy and fairy tales, as well as real people with physical anomalies. The museum is regularly visited by people from Russia and beyond.