The House of Peter the Great is the oldest museum in Tallinn, opened in 1806 by order of the Russian Emperor Alexander I. The 17th-century building was acquired by Russian Tsar Peter I in 1714 and used as his residence during his visits to Tallinn. Peter I also acquired the land surrounding the palace by 1718 and began building the Kadriorg Palace and the Park ensemble, so the first Tsar's residence in the park became known as the Old Palace.