Since adolescence Peter had been a passionate collector. He was greatly fond of collecting unusual things. Traveling around Western Europe, the Russian Tsar never missed an auction where “wonders” brought from Eastern colonies were on sale: unusual shells and plants, stuffed animals and birds, coins, medals, and so on. At the end of the 17th century, anatomy became a fashionable hobby. Artistically prepared specimens of human fetuses – alone or in groups – fabricated by Frederik Ruysch, one of the leading anatomy specialists of that time, were very popular. Peter purchased Ruysch’s unique collection and sent it to St.Petersburg. Together with other things collected by the Tsar, such as instruments, natural rarities, artifacts, books, as well as archaeological finds, the Ruysch collection laid the foundation and became the pride of the first Russian museum opened for the public, the Kunstkammer.

A great part of the Ruysch collection has been saved. Some of his fetal “preparations” are exhibited in the Round Hall. You can also see a piece of the Monster-Tree, the pine-tree, with a branch piercing its trunk, which grew where Peter I decided to lay the corner-stone of the new Kunstkammer building. The Tsar also had also decreed that his subjects throughout Russia should send “monsters”, “ugly ones”, and other marvels to the Museum. People were fond of such things then, mostly from curiosity. But Peter collected them for the enlightenment of his nation, “to instruct and teach about Nature – living and dead – and about the artistry that flows from the hands of men.”

Various objects from early ethnographic collections of Peter’s time are now exhibited in the Round Hall (formerly, the Anatomical Theater). The skeleton of Nicholas Bourgeois is exhibited there. Bourgeois was a French giant whom Peter had brought from Calais. At 2 meters, 18+ centimeters (7 feet, two inches) he was more than 18 cms. (7 inches) taller than Peter himself. His duty was to stand on the footboard at the back of Peter’s carriage. When Bourgeois died at 42, the Tsar decided to preserve his skeleton. Since then, it has been displayed in the Round Hall of the Kunstkammer.

In memory of the founder of the Museum, some of Peter’s clothes, a copy of his death mask, and a mold of his hand are kept there.