House Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP

House Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP in Minsk is a historical monument and museum dedicated to an important event in the history of Russia's political movement. In March 1898, the First Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) was held here, marking the beginning of the development of social-democratic ideas in Europe and around the world. The House Museum is located in the very center of Minsk, at 31A Independence Avenue, and is a branch of the National Historical Museum of the Republic of Belarus. Initially, the congress took place in a house at 133 Zakharievskaya Street, half of which was rented by Pyotr Rumyantsev from the noblewoman Frantishka Rzhetskaya. The house was located near the gendarmerie stables, which played a key role in choosing the location for the meeting. The congress was organized by the revolutionary and member of the Bund party, Evgenia Gurvich, who was searching for a safe place. The official reason for the gathering was listed as the celebration of Rumyantsev's wife Olga's name day, which helped conceal the true purpose of the meeting from the police. The congress lasted three days, from March 1 to 3 (new style: March 13 to 15), 1898. Although the congress did not develop the party's program or charter, the delegates decided to establish the RSDLP, a significant event in the history of the socialist movement. Among the initiators was Pyotr Struve, and nine delegates from various cities of the Russian Empire attended the meeting. Shortly after the congress, the party's manifesto was printed in an underground printing house in Bobruisk. On March 14, 1923, to mark the 25th anniversary of the congress, a museum was opened in the house. The ceremony was attended by congress participants Pyotr Rumyantsev and Borukh Eidelman. Before World War II, part of the house remained residential, adding to its historical significance. In the summer of 1941, the house was destroyed during German air raids, but in 1948 it was restored on its original foundation according to the design of architect Ivan Volodko. Preserved blueprints and documents allowed for the restoration of the house's layout and architectural details. In 1953, due to the reconstruction of Stalin Avenue (now Independence Avenue), the building was moved closer to the Svisloch River. In 1954, the museum recreated the setting corresponding to the time of the congress. Today, the House Museum is a single-story log building, clad and fitted with shutters on the windows. The museum's collection includes over 400 exhibits, including original documents, photographs, personal belongings of the congress participants, and other historical artifacts. One of the rooms has been restored to reflect the authentic interior of Rumyantsev's apartment, featuring household items from the late 19th century, such as a cuckoo clock and candlesticks. Today, the museum showcases materials not only related to the congress but also to life in Minsk at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Among the exhibits are documents on the creation of the first Marxist circles, the activities of the 'Emancipation of Labor' group, and issues of the newspaper 'Iskra'. Visitors can also see a copy of the party manifesto published in Bobruisk, along with other rare documents related to the organization of the social-democratic movement in Russia. The museum was especially popular during Soviet times, hosting pioneer and Komsomol meetings, as well as gatherings with party leaders. Notable figures who visited the museum include Leonid Brezhnev, Fidel Castro, Ho Chi Minh, Josip Broz Tito, and others. In the post-war years, the House Museum became a significant site for the communist movement and was actively visited by both locals and foreign guests. Today, the House Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP continues to attract tourists and Minsk residents, remaining a key stop on city tours and thematic excursions. The museum is open to visitors daily from 11:00 to 19:00, except on Mondays, and is within walking distance of the Victory Square metro station. In addition to historical exhibits, the museum periodically hosts exhibitions by Belarusian artists and thematic workshops. The permanent exhibition covers topics such as "Minsk at the Turn of the 19th–20th Centuries," "The Congress in Faces," "Gendarmerie Investigations," and "The History of the House Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP." Visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the era, learn more about the lives and activities of the congress participants, and explore Minsk's role in the history of the socialist movement. House Museum of the First Congress of the RSDLP is a unique monument that preserves not only the history of political events but also the spirit of the time when the social-democratic movement was just emerging, influencing the fates of entire nations.