A new interactive exhibition dedicated to the Romanov dynasty has opened in the multimedia historical venue Russia – My History, in the Russian city of Tver.
The exhibition tells about the reign of the first tsars of the Romanov dynasty: Mikhail Fyodorovich (1613–1645), Alexei Mikhailovich (1645–1676), Fyodor Alekseevich (1676–1682), and Peter I the Great (1689–1725).
The exhibition also includes sections dedicated to the era of Empress Catherine II the Great (1762–1796), Emperors Alexander I the Blessed (1801–1825), Nicholas II (1894–1917), and the revolutionary events of 1917 that ended the Romanov dynasty.
The exhibition is presented in 15 halls with multimedia screens, touch tables, lightboxes and tablets. The updated exhibition has become more interactive, thanks to which visitors can test their knowledge in educational quizzes, watch chronological tapes, get acquainted with information using CGI graphics and modern technology.
Visitors also have the option of a guided tour of the exhibition, with experienced guides who discuss the pages of the history of the Romanov Dynasty and the great transformations of the country.
The exhibition Russia – My History is open on a permanent basis.
The multimedia historical Russia – My History sites now stretches across Russia and includes 26 cities: Vladivostok, Pyatigorsk, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Makhachkala, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, St. Petersburg, Saratov, Stavropol, Tyumen, Ufa, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Yakutsk, Chelyabinsk, Surgut, Tver, Lugansk, Melitopol.
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Also in Tver . . . . On 20th Mary 2020, after an extensive restoration, the historic Imperial Chambers in the Tver railway station opened its doors to visitors.
It is now possible to see the former Imperial Chambers, where Emperors Nicholas I, Alexander III and Nicholas II stopped during their respective train journeys between the two capitals.
The interiors which reflects the early 1900s, are based on archival documents, sketches, drawings and surviving photographs. They are as close as possible to the lost original, right down to the green wallpaper with gilded pattern on the walls and figured oak flooring.
Note the portraits of Emperor Nicholas I (left) and Emperor Nicholas II (right).
Recall that in 1851, traffic began on the Nikolayevskaya railway, which connected Tver with St. Petersburg and Moscow. It became a popular stop for the Imperial Train, where members of the Imperial Family would rest in the Imperial Chambers before continuing their respective journeys. See less
The Ukrainian authorities have officially recognized the Romanov dynasty as a symbol of “Russian imperialism.” According to the current legislation, the authorities are obliged to carry out the so-called “decommunization” of all cultural heritage sites and geographical names associated with the Romanov dynasty.
During the 300+ year reign of the Romanov dynasty, there was a gradual inclusion of what are today, Ukrainian territories into the Russian state, and then the Russian Empire. The key event was the decision of the Pereyaslav Council in 1654, which consolidated the alliance of the Zaporozhye Army with the Russian Tsardom, after which Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky swore an oath of allegiance to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (1629-1676). Later, during the military conflicts with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Ottoman Empire, almost all the lands of modern day Ukraine gradually became part of the Russian Empire.
The decision of the Ukrainian authorities to “abolish” the Romanovs is perceived by many Ukrainians as an attempt to distort the historical past associated with the Russian Empire. The historical and cultural heritage of Ukraine was formed largely thanks to the Romanovs.
In addition to Tsars and Emperors, the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory[1] recognized a number of well-known statesmen and military figures of the Russian Empire, including writers, poets, composers and artists, as “symbols of Russian imperialism”.
The list include Field Marshall Mikhail Kutuzov (1745-1813), writer Ivan Bunin (1870-1953), author and poet Alexander Pushkin (1799-1837), playwright Alexander Griboyedov (1795-1829), literary critic and publicist Vissarion Belinsky (1811-1884), composer Mikhail Glinka (1804-1857), writer Nikolai Karamzin (1766-1826) among others. Together they to have been declated symbols of “Russian imperialism.” The document also indicates the need to eliminate all objects associated with these historical figures.
The purge actually began in the summer of 2022, when monuments to the Romanovs were removed by local authorities or vandalized by Ukrainian nationalists. Below, are just three of the casualties:
In July 2022, vandals destroyed a bust-monument to Emperor Alexander III in the village of Pershotravneve, located in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. The bust of the “Tsar-Peacemaker” was knocked from its pedestal to the ground, while the plaque, which included Putin’s name was also removed from the front of the pedestal. The bust-monument was erected in 2013 on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty and the 125th anniversary of the Borki Train Disaster in October 1888. On 29th October 1888, the Imperial Train carrying Tsar Alexander III and his family from Crimea to St Petersburg derailed at high speed at Borki.
The original monument to Empress Catherine II (1729-1796) was built in 1900. The monument was toppled by the Bolsheviks in 1920, but was restored in 2007, with the private funds of Ruslan Tarpan, an Odesa businessman and member of the Odesa City Council
In July 2022, the monument to the Empress Catherine II, became the object of vandalism, it was repeatedly doused with red paint, an executioner’s cap was put over the empress’s head, and a hangman’s noose was attached to the hand of the empress’s sculpture. The monument became surrounded by a seven-meter-high fence.
As part of “derussification” in Ukraine, the monument was dismantled on 28th December 2022.
And where does this Russophobic attitude adopted by the Ukranian authorities end? Will they exhume the remains of Russian prime minister Pyotr Stolypin, who was assassinated in Kiev in 1911, and is now buried at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra. This seems feasible, especially given that Ukrane has already banned the Russian Orthodox Church[2].
Sadly, Ukraine’s actions mirror] that of the Bolsheviks in 1918, when Lenin ordered the removal of all symbols of Tsarist Russia, including the removal of all Tsarist symbols, such as double-headed eagles, the destruction of monuments, memorial plaques, the renaming of cities, towns, squares, buildings and street names.
Ukrainian school children will now learn the Soviet version of Romanov history, who poisoned the minds of both children and adults on the Romanovs for much of the 20th century. To this day, the myths and lies created and distributed by the Bolsheviks and later the Soviets continue to distort the legacy of Russia’s last tsar, who reigned from 1894 to 1917.
And can you imagine what would happen to Livadia, if Ukraine regains control of Crimea? For years, the second floor of the palace has been a museum dedicated to Nicholas II and his family, this would most certainly be closed. In addition, all the monuments to the Romanovs which have been installed throughout Crimea, would be destroyed. These include monuments of Emperors Nicholas II and Alexander III, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich.
Lord have mercy!
NOTES:
[1] The Ukrainian Institute of National Memory is a central executive body operating under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. It was established on 31st May 2006 to restore and preserve the national memory of the Ukrainian people.
[2] Kiev is considered the birthplace of the Russian Orthodox Church, as it was the site of the Christianization of Kievan Rus’ in 988, during the reign of Vladimir the Great (958-1015). This event marked the introduction of Byzantine Christianity to the Eastern Slavic lands, leading to the establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church.
A new bus dedicated to the Romanov dynasty was unveiled this week in the Far Eastern Russian city of Vladivostok. Commuters can now learn about the Russian emperors and empresses from Peter I to Nicholas II, while they are going to work or school.
The outside of the bus depicts some of Russia’s most famous monarchs. For instance, depicted on the rear of the driver’s side of the bus are Empress Catherine II, Emperor Peter the Great and his daughter Empress Elizabeth. On the passenger side of the bus are Emperors Alexander I, Nicholas II, Alexander II, Paul I and empress Anna Ioannovna.
The interior of the bus features informative posters (see last photo on this post) which give commuters a brief summary of each respective emperor or empress.
“The appearance of such a recognizable bus attracts a lot of attention among both commuters and pedestrians with it’s impressive “Romanovs” inscription, reports IA Prima Media.
The bus which celebrates the Romanov dynasty, who ruled the Russian Empire for more than 300 years, is a joint project of the multimedia park Russia – My History and the municipal enterprise “VPOPAT No 1 with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Archival Affairs of the Primorsky Territory.
The historical materials placed on the bus are related to the Romanovs exhibition, which is presented in the multimedia park Russia – My History. The interior of the passenger bus is now a gallery of posters of Russian emperors – from Peter I to Nicholas II.
The idea of creating an educational route was iniated more than two years ago. In the last few years, similar buses have been unveiled in Vladivostock, which explore other historic events, including the 150th anniversary of Vladimir Klavdievich Arsenyev; the Khasan events; the Great Patriotic War; and the anniversary of the fire and rescue service. There are also plans to unveil a bus dedicated to another ruling Russian dynasty – the Rurik dynasty.
The new bus has been appointed to route No15 in Vladivostok. The choice of the route was for a reason. Route No15 is very long and runs from the center of Vladivostok to the Primorsky Oceanarium on Russian Island. Bus No 15 serves some of the largest universities in the city, so they are always full of young people.
Full-colour covers, 122 pages + 99 black & white photos. Price: $25 + postage
I am pleased to announce that the No. 15 issue of Royal Russia is now available for purchase from my online bookshop. This is the first issue to be published in more than a year!
The past year has allowed me to rethink the future of this popular journal, and during that time, I have made several changes to the publication.
Aside from a new font and page numbering, I have also made a slight change in the wording of the subtitle of Royal Russia, which now reads A Celebration of the History of the Romanov Dynasty in Words and Photographs.
The No. 15 issue, and all future issues will only feature full-length articles on the history of the Romanov dynasty: biographies, events in their respective lives, their residences among other like-minded topics.
I have eliminated all advertising and Royal Russia News, thus devoting more space to more full-length articles, many of which will be first English translations of works by Russian historians, providing readers with fresh, new facts and information from a variety of Russian media and archival sources.
I am also pleased to note that each new issue will contain more photographs of the Russian Imperial Family, their residences, as well as those of life in Pre-Revolutionary Russia.
I am making great efforts to find and publish photos which are rare or never seen before to the majority of readers. Don’t let any one convince you that there are “no new photos of the Romanovs” – there are many!
I must apologize for the quality of some of the photographs published in Royal Russia, however, this is something which I have no control over. Photos have been chosen for their visual impact, but historical accuracy has made it vital to include a number of photographs whose quality is poor, but whose value as historical documents is considerable. Sadly, during the Soviet years, many photographs of the Imperial family were stored under poor conditions and their standard is low
Please note that while I will make every effort to publish two issues per year, I can no longer guarantee such. Each new issue will be published only when I have enough full-length articles. Translations are both time consuming and costly, but I will work very hard to bring readers something fresh, new and interesting with each successive issue.
I must also stress, that when an issue has sold out, no further reprints will be issued. I can confirm that 5 of the 15 issues of Royal Russia published to date, are now out of print.
I trust that you will like the changes made to Royal Russia, that you will enjoy all the articles and photos, and that you will continue to be a dedicated reader in the years ahead.
Below, is a list of the 6 full-length articles and their respective authors, featured in Royal Russia No. 15:
MILESTONES IN THE LIFE OF GRAND DUKE MIKHAIL ALEXANDROVICH by Yuri Alexandrovich Zhuk & Vladimir Mikhailovich Khrustalev – 1st English Translation
TIMOFEJ YASHCHIK: The Fate of Maria Feodorovna’s Bodyguard by Andrei Razumov – 1st English Translation
QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE ROMANOVS by Coryne Hall
THE BOLSHOI THEATRE AND THE ROMANOVS by Alexander Anatolyevich Vaskin – 1st English Translation
PRINCESS TATIANA KONSTANTINOVNA: The Little Known Romanov by Coryne Hall
ANNA VYRUBOVA: The Finnish Years in Exile by Ludmila Khuktiniemi – 1st English Translation
plus, two collections of vintage photographs:
FROZEN IN TIME Photographic Memories of the Russian Imperial Family
THE LOST WORLD OF IMPERIAL RUSSIA Vintage Photographs of Russia Before the Revolution
Royal Russia No. 15 can be purchased from my online bookshop – thank you for your interest in my publications!
Nicholas II 
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