In this work, for the first time, the problem of ideas about the space of Russian historians of the second half of the 19th century is posed and studied. The research was carried out within the framework of cultural and intellectual history. The author proposes a research model, which reflects the components of the "mental map" of the Russian historical community, their content characteristics. The factors that influenced the formation of ideas about the space of Russian historians are determined, the characteristics of the images of the regions of the Russian Empire, which were broadcast by the Russian historical community, are given. The use of new methods for studying the ideas of the Russian historical community of the second half of the 19th century has been substantiated. New archival materials have been introduced into the scientific circulation, presented mainly by sources of personal origin. The study is of interest to historians, cultural experts, teachers and students of the humanitarian faculties of higher educational institutions.