On the 12th of December, 1872 the Polytechnical Museum in Moscow opened, one of the oldest technical museums around the world. The large building and its original architecture are still in place in the center of the city today. Soon after the abolition of serfdom in Russia, Russian scientists and professors of Moscow University got together and planned the Museum. They were not the only ones who took part in the construction of the Polytechnical Museum. Members of Russia, Moscow government and Moscow Duma merchants, industrialists and the average, ordinary citizens of Moscow put in their contribution. The city provided the site, in the center of the city, for the construction and also financially assisted the Museum Project by donating part of the money needed for the design and construction of the Museum building. A large amount of the money needed was provided from the state budget and the balance was donated by tradesmen all helping toward the completion of the Polytechnical Museum
