Stalin Museum

Why visit

The museum tells you as much about the Soviet Union as about Stalin himself. Work on the main building began in 1951, and it opened in 1957, four years after his death. It was closed in 1989, as Georgia moved towards independence, and later reopened. Its displays still celebrate his life with little criticism, and only a small part covers the millions who suffered in the purges and the Gulag. Visit it as a piece of history in its own right, and read about the Stalin era before you go.

What to see

• The birth house: a small two-room house, where the family rented one room, kept under a grand colonnaded pavilion in the park in front of the museum.
• The museum halls: a palatial building with a grand staircase and six halls of photographs, documents, gifts and personal belongings, ending with a copy of his death mask.
• The railway carriage: Stalin’s green, armour-plated carriage, which he used from 1941, including on the way to the Tehran and Yalta conferences. You can see his bedroom, bathroom and meeting room, sometimes for an extra fee.

Getting there

The museum is in the centre of Gori, at the end of Stalin Avenue, about 15 minutes’ walk from the bus station and 10 minutes from Gori Fortress. Taxis from the railway station take a few minutes.

Tips

• Join a guided tour, included in some tickets. The guides know the collection well, and you can ask them questions.
• Photography rules change. Ask at the ticket desk before you take pictures inside.
• Combine the museum with Gori Fortress and Uplistsikhe in our one-day itinerary.