The Tula State Museum of Weapons is housed in a dramatic modern building shaped like a medieval helmet, opened in 2012 next to the kremlin. The collection spans five centuries of Russian arms manufacturing, from 16th-century crossbows and pikes to AK-47s and anti-aircraft guns. It is one of the most comprehensive weapons museums in Russia and well worth several hours.
The older section of the collection, in the original 19th-century armoury building nearby, covers the imperial period and includes beautifully decorated ceremonial weapons gifted between tsars and foreign rulers. The highlight of the modern building is the Cold War-era hall, where you can see the full lineage of Soviet small arms alongside artillery, rockets, and a section dedicated to the Kalashnikov. Audio guides are available in Russian and English.