Historical Figures to Tell Their Own Stories to Visitors at Russia – My History Park
Visitors to Moscow's Russia – My History historical park will soon be able to interact with "brought-to-life" rulers of Ancient Rus. By the end of 2026, the park plans to complete a major overhaul of its exhibitions, with digital historical characters ready to tell the stories of their lives and eras in their own voices.
Imagine Ivan the Terrible, Alexander Nevsky, Saint Prince Vladimir, and other rulers of the Rurik dynasty appearing not as static portraits or textbook illustrations but as living storytellers.
The Country's Flagship Historical Park Reinvents Its Exhibition Experience
The renovated Rurik Dynasty exhibition has reopened at the Russia – My History historical park at VDNH following a major reconstruction. The exhibition now features additional historical content, redesigned visual elements, upgraded multimedia systems, a large-scale art installation consisting of more than 150 flexible LED screens covering over 100 square meters, and mirrored immersive halls that place visitors inside the atmosphere of past centuries.
The Rurik era encompasses a vast chapter of history, including the founding of ancient cities, the Christianization of Rus, the period of Mongol rule and its eventual overcoming, and Moscow's emergence as a major center of European political and public life. The exhibition space is designed to take visitors on a multimedia journey through the history of Ancient Rus. The project continues to evolve, and soon the exhibition will be expanded with animated historical figures.
At the core of the concept are immersive installations and artificial intelligence technologies. According to Ivan Yesin, the use of AI and 3D modeling makes it possible to reduce costs while achieving a high degree of realism in the portrayal of historical figures.
Digital Avatars as Ambassadors of Learning
The technologies being deployed at Russia – My History – digital characters, interactive scenarios, speech synthesis, 3D modeling, and multimedia interfaces – can also be applied to museum, educational, and tourism projects both within Russia and internationally.
Russia – My History operates branches across the country. Following the launch of the updated format in Moscow, the concept is expected to be rolled out throughout the entire network.
"With support from the Youth and Children project, we plan to modernize historical parks across the country in the same style. We will create a core platform in Moscow and then extend it to the regions," Ivan Yesin said.
Interest in digital avatars of prominent Russian historical and cultural figures is growing both domestically and abroad. In Russia, AI has already been used to create digital versions of Maxim Gorky and Alexander Pushkin. The technology can reproduce speech patterns, facial expressions, intonation, and even interact with people in real time.
The concept of "living" historical guides could become a powerful tool for educational and public-engagement projects. Digital characters can accompany tourists along routes, serve as guides in museums, and host online tours. The technology is particularly well suited for presenting complex historical material to children and teenagers in a format that is both accessible and engaging.
Historical Storytelling Searches for Balance
The use of digital characters in historical exhibitions reflects a broader shift among Russian museums. Traditional multimedia formats – video screens and audio guides – are increasingly giving way to more personalized experiences built around immersive AI-powered storytelling.
For Russia's IT sector, this remains a niche but promising area of development. Over the next several years, similar solutions are likely to become increasingly common in museums, historical parks, school-based educational programs, and tourism venues. The central challenge for developers will be maintaining a balance among visual impact, historical accuracy, and a comfortable visitor experience.
