A Soviet collectible postcard from 1970 depicting the V. I. Lenin monument, which was located at the intersection of Taras Shevchenko Boulevard and Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv.
What is shown on the postcard
The postcard shows the figure of V. I. Lenin carved from red polished quartzite, mounted on a round pedestal of black labradorite bearing the inscription “ЛЕНІН”. Decorative street lamps and a granite parapet are visible in the foreground. Tall poplar trees, the facade of a multi-story residential building, and festive red flags form the background.
Historical note
The monument, designed by sculptor S. Merkurov, was unveiled on December 5, 1946. The statue was made from rare Karelian quartzite, identical to the material used for the Lenin Mausoleum in Moscow. The monument was the main Lenin statue in Kyiv and held the status of a national historical landmark.
Present day
On December 8, 2013, during protests, the monument was toppled and dismantled by activists. In the following years, various temporary art installations were placed on the vacant pedestal. Today, the statue is completely gone.
Location (map)
Address: intersection of Taras Shevchenko Boulevard and Khreshchatyk Street, Kyiv, Ukraine
Coordinates: 50.442806, 30.520389
(Google Maps)
Coordinate source: Coordinates of the former location of the V. I. Lenin monument at the beginning of Taras Shevchenko Boulevard, Kyiv..
Questions and answers
- When was the Lenin monument in Kyiv opened? The monument, designed by sculptor S. Merkurov, was officially unveiled on December 5, 1946.
- What materials were used to construct the monument? The figure of Lenin was made of red Karelian quartzite, while the cylindrical pedestal was made of black labradorite.
- What is currently located at this site? The monument was dismantled on December 8, 2013. Currently, the statue is absent, and the vacant pedestal has occasionally been used for temporary art installations.
See also
The «Old Postcards» archive includes other views of Kyiv from 1970.
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