The Museum of Diplomatic Corps is situated in an old mansion of the 19th century. In 1918 the US Embassy headed by David Frensis was quartered there. In 1918 Vologda was the so called Russia's diplomatic capital, receiving 11 foreign embassies and diplomatic missions.
Vologda was situated far from the front line. Besides it was located at the intersection of important railway lines and had a convenient telegraph communication. That's why the city of Vologda was chosen to receive such an important delegation.
The foreign diplomats tried to analyse the political situation in post-revolutionary Russia and chose a policy for the governments of their countries to adhere. It was the last attempt of the western countries to help Russia join the world community, and it was ruined by the Bolsheviks.
For a long time the western politicians considered the work of the diplomats in Vologda to be downtime. In the Soviet Union the diplomats were called the enemies of the communism. Nowadays the importance of these events is appreciated by historians of the whole world.
The exposition of the Museum of Diplomatic Corps is dedicated to that interesting period of the world history.
The first exhibition "Foreign Embassies in Vologda (1918)" was opened on July 16, 1997. The two halls of the Museum of Diplomatic Corps were opened on June 25, 1998 with the support of the US Embassy. James Collins, US Ambassador to Russia, was present at the opening ceremony.
In June, 1998 the Museum of Diplomatic Corps held an international scientific conference "Russia and World Community at the Beginning of the XXth Century. Theory and Practice of Interrelations" which was timed to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Diplomatic Corps' sojourn in Vologda. On this occasion the exhibition of the Museum was extended and supplied with new exhibits. At the opening ceremony of the renewed exhibition among guests of honour was American Ambassador to Russia James Collins.
There are unique exhibits in the Museum of Diplomatic Corps, such as documents, business letters from the record offices of Russia, USA, Great Britain and France. The personal things and the interior of 1918 create the atmosphere of Russia in the post-revolutionary period.
Having rich funds and a library, the Museum can provide specialists from all over the world with wider access to information about the Museum and its treasures.
The Museum can organize conferences, musical and literary soirees, exhibitions, presentations and history lessons "Civil War in the North".
The Museum's guides are ready to organize excursions in Russian, English or French both in the Museum and around the city of Vologda.
