Смольный институт благородных девиц / Smolny Institute 1889 - 1917

Смольный институт благородных девиц 1889 - 1917 The Smolny Institute for Noble Maidens 1889 - 1917 Here I present an album, of photographs of the famous ladies finishing school in St. Petersburg, prior to the the Revolution. In 1917, the building was chosen by Vladimir Lenin as Bolshevik Headquarters during the October Revolution. It was his residence for several months, until the national government moved to the Moscow Kremlin. Then the Smolny became the headquarters of the local Communist Party apparat. In 1991 the Smolny became the seat of the City Mayor and after 1996 the official residence of the Governor of St Petersburg. Accompanying music: Variation 5 (Sokolov) played by the Moscow Symphony Orchestra