Gogol House is a literary museum on Nikitsky Boulevard in Moscow, in the house where Nikolai Gogol spent his final years. The rooms recreate the setting of his life there, with personal objects, his writing desk and the fireplace associated with the destruction of the second volume of Dead Souls. Exhibits explore his biography and works, including The Government Inspector. Paper guides in the rooms and electronic displays provide context, while an audio guide is another option. The museum also has a library and hosts lectures, chamber concerts and performances.
The house on Nikitsky Boulevard
Gogol House is in Talyzin’s house at 7A Nikitsky Boulevard. Nikolai Gogol lived here from 1847, during the final years of his life. The museum opened in 2005 and is dedicated to his life and work.
The rooms are arranged to evoke the house as it was in Gogol’s time. Among the objects on display are belongings connected with the writer and his working desk. A fireplace is associated with the destruction of the second volume of Dead Souls. The exhibits also address his friendship with Pushkin and his work on The Government Inspector.
Reading the exhibits
You can explore the rooms at your own pace. Paper guides explain objects in the displays, and electronic screens in the final room present information about Gogol’s life and writing. An audio guide is also available as an option for a more structured visit.
The displays include a model of a theatre staging The Government Inspector, alongside an interactive portrait of Nicholas I responding to the play. Other exhibits convey aspects of domestic life in the house and Gogol’s interests beyond writing, including sewing and embroidery.
Library and events
Gogol House also contains a library with a collection of more than 250,000 volumes. Students of the humanities use it, and the institution holds lectures, chamber concerts and performances. A separate exhibition area, called the New Wing, adds another space to the museum.
The courtyard has a monument to Gogol. The house opposite the museum is where he lived during the last three years of his life, after settling there at the invitation of Count and Countess Tolstoy. Turgenev, Shevyrev and Aksakov were among those who visited him.
FAQ
Where is Gogol House?
It is at 7A Nikitsky Boulevard in Moscow, in Talyzin’s house.
What can you see at Gogol House?
The museum has rooms arranged to evoke Gogol’s life in the house, personal objects, his writing desk and exhibits on his life and works.
Is there an audio guide?
An audio guide is available. Paper guides in the rooms and electronic displays also provide information.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Allow about 1 to 2 hours to explore the rooms and displays at your own pace.
