What echoes do you hear in the silence of this square? Right here stands the Monument to Lenin on Ploshchad Lenina. It is a stoic reminder of a pivotal moment in Russian history. This spot marks Lenin’s return from exile. He stepped off the train at the Finland Railway Station. He then mounted an armoured car. From there, Lenin delivered an impassioned speech. The crowd included welcoming workers and soldiers. It also included sailors. This marked the beginning of his active role in the events of 1917.
The monument’s history is interesting. It was unveiled in 1926. This was shortly after Lenin’s death in 1924. The Soviet authorities reviewed over 60 designs. They chose Sergey Evseev’s design. It portrayed Lenin with his left hand tucked into his waistcoat. His right hand is raised. It shows the way forward for the Revolution. This image became a model for monuments across the Soviet Union.
Let’s look closer at the details. The bronze Lenin figure and the armoured car turret measure 4.3 meters. The monument’s total height is 10.7 meters. This includes its black granite pedestal. Architects Vladimir Shchuko and Vladimir Gelfreich designed it. It was created in constructivist style.
The Monument to Lenin did not always stand here. It originally stood closer to the Finland Railway Station. This was on Botkinskaya Ulitsa. It was moved when Ploshchad Lenina was reconstructed in 1945. Fountains were added around the monument in 2005.
An unusual event occurred in 2009. A small explosive device damaged the statue. It blew a hole through Lenin’s nether regions. The culprits were never caught. The motive for the attack remains unknown. The monument was later restored. It regained its former glory. The Monument to Lenin is one of the first Lenin monuments in Russia. It stands as a symbol of the early Soviet era. It has the status of an object of cultural heritage. It is of federal significance.
As you stand before this monument consider its journey. From its creation to its reconstruction. From an act of vandalism to its careful restoration. The Monument to Lenin reflects the ever-changing narrative of Saint Petersburg and Russia itself.