Museum of Curiosities

I went to the Museum of Curiosities/Kunstkammer Museum the other day. It can be considered the first museum of St. Petersburg.

Peter the Great opened it and called it the Museum of Curiosities. It is said that he was walking down the street and saw two trees intertwined. He thought this was so peculiar that he would house a museum of curiosities in that very spot.

However, the things that are curious to Peter the Great are rather strange. Mostly, it was abnormal baby fetuses. In order not to scare the visitor, he placed bonnets on top of the baby's heads and over the limbs that were floating in jars. However, this didn't work and people were still scared to come. So finally to entice visitors he made the admission price free and offered a shot of vodka at the entrance.

I did not receive a shot of vodka at the entrance and had to pay, and I slightly regret going. It was very frightening, but interesting to see what Peter the Great liked ...