Anthology of Vagrancy: A Private "Homeless Museum" Opens in St. Petersburg

Today is the first group of visitors studied The exhibition at 31 Gorokhovaya Street was visited by a guide who spoke about the origins of vagrancy in Russia and its subsequent evolution.

“Here you can see a 14th-century pilgrim, a robber and convict from the post-Petrine era, a doss-house inhabitant from the late 19th century, a Soviet scourge, a homeless person from the late 1990s,” рассказал Museum founder Anton Borodin: "Everyone has their own difficult and interesting story."

In addition to tours, the museum plans to host themed events, including readings of stories about homelessness, screenings of original films, meetings, and exhibitions. Part of the proceeds will go toward staff salaries, and part will go to helping people in difficult circumstances.

"Our museum is an anthology of vagrancy, a study at the intersection of history, sociology, and anthropology," Borodin explained. "Despite the seemingly harsh name, we are against trash, mockery, or excessive naturalism."

"Free tickets for officially homeless people," "I live in Russia, and I'm already homeless here. I'll go look at myself in the mirror," "There's already one like this in central Moscow, called Three Station Square," and "What a horror," social media users reacted to the news.