A collectible 1973 postcard depicting the main entrance to the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after May 1 in Voroshilovgrad (currently Luhansk).
What is shown on the postcard
The foreground shows the roundabout area in front of the park entrance. Two symmetrical, semi-circular white colonnades with blue trim are featured, topped with the inscription “Park of May 1”. A poster is displayed on the left colonnade, while a portrait of V. I. Lenin is mounted on the right one. On the road to the right, a white and blue Soviet ZIL-158 (or LiAZ-158) bus and a section of a balustrade fence are visible. In the background on the right stands a four-story residential building of Stalinist architecture.
Historical note
The May 1 Park of Culture and Leisure is one of the oldest parks in Luhansk, founded at the end of the 19th century as the Mining Garden (later known as Erdman Garden). During the Soviet era, it was reconstructed, renamed, and became the city’s primary public leisure space. The colonnades at the main entrance on Karl Marx Street were built in the post-war period in the style of Soviet Neoclassicism. During the 1970s, the park was highly popular, featuring amusement rides, an open-air cinema, and a dance pavilion.
Present day
Today, the park retains its status as a recreational zone in the historical district of Luhansk. The architectural appearance of the main entrance with the colonnades has survived to this day with minor changes, though it is currently in need of restoration. The surrounding buildings and the square’s general layout have been largely preserved.
Location (map)
Address: Karl Marx St, Luhansk, Ukraine
Coordinates: 48.574100, 39.301400
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the main entrance to the May 1 Park on Karl Marx Street.
Questions and answers
- What kind of bus is depicted on the postcard near the park? A Soviet passenger bus, model ZIL-158 (LiAZ-158), painted in white and blue, is captured on the road near the park’s entrance.
- What was the park called before the revolution? Before the Soviet administration established its current name, the green space was known as the Mining Garden (Gornozavodskoy Sad) or Erdman Garden.
- What building is visible in the background on the right? In the background on the right, there is a four-story apartment building designed in the Soviet Neoclassical (Stalinist) architectural style.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Luhansk from 1973.
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