The Tula State Museum of Weapons, which itself was founded in 1724 upon the orders of Emperor Peter the Great to exhibit ancient and rare examples of weapons and in 1984 it was moved to the Epiphany Cathedral inside the Tula Kremlin.  After the fall of the Soviet Union there were claims to return the cathedral to the Orthodox Church and plans were developed to find a new home for the museum. Work began on a new building which was designed in the shape of a mediaeval Russian helmet.  In March 2012 the museum was opened and the process of relocating the museum is still continuing.

Now the displays exhibit all forms of weapons from the time of Peter the Great to the present day; from swords and daggers to guns and cannons, both standard issue items and elaborate ceremonial versions. Although a large proportion of the exhibits were made in Tula, there are also examples of work from other Russian cities and from abroad.