The article deals with the natural and biological parameters of the ethnic development. The specificity of the ethnic genotype is formed as the result of adaptation to the environment. Natural and geographical spaces that provide the reproduction of a particular population of the biological species homo sapiens, become an ecological niche of a particular ethnic group. The connection with its ecological niche is determined socio-culturally.

Migrations played a special role in the history of Russian people. They influenced greatly the objective and subjective manifestations of their lives and self-actualization. During its history Russian ethnos increased its settlement territory carrying out the historical mission of “developing of remote areas”. In Russian colonization both state and Russian ethnos played the equal role.

Along with the regularities of the processes of socio-ethnical temporality there are marked out and characterized the main tides of ethnic formation in the world history. Having determined the main stages of Russian ethnos development and having stated their dominant features and peculiarities, the authors show the place of Russia in the world ethnic time.

There are considered the peculiarities of collaboration of the Russian ethnos and its natural habitat. There is shown that the peculiarity of natural and ecological niche, complexity of adaptation to it are fixed in the Russian ethnic consciousness and peoples mentality.

There is analyzed the process of origin and development of open, public museums in Russia in the XIX - beginning of the XX century. There is substantiated the leading role of private charity and public organizations in transformation of the museums into educational and local history centres. There is shown the genesis of excursion museum work.