Saratov State Art Museum named after A. N. Radishchev, 41 Radishchev Street

About museum

In 1889, to a design by the academician of architecture Franz Schuster, a purpose-built building was constructed to house the commodity exchange in Saratov. The foundation was laid at the corner of Nikolskaya and Moskovskaya streets, and it was solemnly opened on September 7, 1890. In 1900 a project was proposed to establish a stock exchange in Saratov. For its expansion it was decided to add to the existing building according to the plans and estimates of architect Alexey Salko. At the end of 1904 new trading halls were opened, and the building became the finishing element in the development of Theatre Square. In 1918 the building was handed over for use as a soldiers' club, and later as a Red Army club. In 1922 the exchange was reopened, but in 1930 after its closure the building was occupied by a rabfak (workers' preparatory faculty). From 1935 it housed the history and philology faculties of Saratov University. In 1999 the building was transferred to the Volga Institute of Administration named after P. A. Stolypin, and on September 7 a ceremonial handover took place to the Saratov State Art Museum named after A. N. Radishchev.