This 1957 postcard captures Stalin Avenue in Zaporizhzhia, known today as Sobornyi Avenue. The image showcases a bustling urban thoroughfare during the period of post-war reconstruction and active development of the city.
What is shown on the postcard
In the foreground of the postcard, a wide, tree-lined avenue is visible, along which a trolleybus with board number 5 is moving. To the right is a multi-story residential building in the Stalinist Empire style, featuring distinctive balconies. Further down the avenue, other buildings and urban infrastructure elements can be seen. The trees along the avenue are whitewashed, which was a common practice for urban landscaping at that time.
Historical note
Stalin Avenue, now Sobornyi Avenue, is the main street of Zaporizhzhia. After the devastation of World War II, the city was virtually rebuilt from scratch. The avenue became a showcase of Soviet urban planning, demonstrating the power and aesthetics of Stalinist architecture. The opening of trolleybus service in Zaporizhzhia in 1949 marked an important stage in the development of urban transport and infrastructure.
Present day
Today, Sobornyi Avenue retains its significance as Zaporizhzhia’s central thoroughfare. Many of the buildings depicted on the postcard still stand, although their facades may have been renovated. The avenue remains a busy transport hub, with trolleybuses and other urban transport continuing to operate. The avenue’s name was changed as part of decommunization in 2016.
Location (map)
Address: Sobornyi Avenue, 186, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
Coordinates: 47.818800, 35.196900
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Identified by the characteristic architecture of Sobornyi Avenue (formerly Stalin Avenue) in Zaporizhzhia. The residential building at Sobornyi Avenue, 186 is visible on the right in the foreground..
Questions and answers
- What was the name of the avenue on the postcard in 1957? The avenue was named Stalin Avenue.
- What mode of transport is depicted on the postcard? A trolleybus with board number 5 is depicted on the postcard.
- When was trolleybus service opened in Zaporizhzhia? Trolleybus service in Zaporizhzhia was opened in 1949.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Zaporizhzhia from 1957.
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