Back to the State Historical Museum. Remember this building from before? It was as beautiful inside as it was out.
I have never seen so many adornment casings for Gospels. This one is solid gold
Painted walls and ceilings
Carriages and weapons
Throne
The above carriage was one of the carriages for the Romanov children. Below is some of their clothes
The United States Declaration of Independence ~ Obviously a replica but still pretty cool to see in Russia
W truly appreciated and loved about this museum is it was like walking through the Smithsonian. It was filled with early civilization artifacts of the people who inhabited this country. From the dawn of Russia's existence until present day to include information from voyages and explorations. Again, another well done museum.
Now... The Main Event... LENIN!!!
Mausoleum to Vladimir Lenin - The man in charge of the Bolshevik Revolution which overthrew the Dynasty. He's kind of a big deal in case you didn't know :-)
We waited in line to enter. Yes, LINES to see this! But its only open on certain days for 2 hours. Limited access I guess.
Once you pass through security in the the Mausoleum area you walk along the Kremlin Wall Necropolis which houses 12 actual graves and ashes of other notable member of the state to include Yuri Gagarin who was a Russian Cosmonaut and the first human being sent to space. The above grave is Leonid Brezhnev who was the Soviet Secretary General
Now we all know who this is right??? Below is the grave and final resting place of Josef Stalin. I tried to take a selfie with him and received some looks. I guess selfies with the dead are frowned upon. It was a surreal feeling to be standing next to his grave. Knowing he is right there.
Back in Rochester, one of our cemeteries contains the grave of notable figures such as Susan B Anthony and Frederick Douglass as well as the man who sources believe was Jack the Ripper and I visited those graves often for school trips.
This was different. This was unique. This man people loved and feared and being an American, with grandparents and parents who lived through the Cold War, it was ingrained in my education that everything the Soviet Union stood for was EVIL. We didn't fear Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan. In the 80's we were too far removed from WWII. I was born in the Cold War Era. We feared the Soviet Union, We feared nuclear war, we were told to fear Russians and not to trust them. I was 7 years old when the Soviet Union broke apart and can remember the news. I obviously did not understand what that meant but I knew it was big whatever it was. Even after the 1991 breakup, it didn't mean the fear was over. I can remember my 5th grade teacher talking about duck and cover drills.
So to be here, in Moscow, admiring this city, waiting in line to see Lenin, standing on this grave was unbelievable actually.
I didn't really know what to expect when I entered the mausoleum. Again, one of those weird feelings like "I am an American, I should naturally not want to have anything to do with this" but at the same time I was more drawn to it because I am an American. I have read so many books on Lenin and understanding his psyche is interesting. Almost as interesting as Hitler actually. What if Hitler was never denied entrance into Art school in Vienna? Would WWII have happened? Same could be said for Lenin. What if he never became involved in the Marxist Revolutionary Movement in the late 1890's? How much different would Russia be today? Strange to think about huh?
We enter the building and its dark, cold and various hues of red. Thenthere he is. Lenin, laying in a open coffin, preserved, and visible for all to see. I did not expect to actually see his body right there to view. Very creepy and cool at the same time. He was so small and petite. I was expecting a portly stocky man since all his pictures make him look larger. His statue here in Yuzhno also makes it appear that he is a larger man. Nope.. itty bitty little man.
So since Photography is strictly forbidden in the mausoleum, these pictures come from google images and since I have seen this first hand I know them to be legit.
That's it. That's what he looks like. Lenin at peace.
One other attraction we saw while in Red Square was the Armory Chamber inside the Kremlin. If any of you readers head to Moscow and plan to visit the Armory be sure to give yourself at least 2 hours to get through it. We had a recorded English tour taking us through and it was 1 hour 40 minutes I believe but the recording can not tell you absolutely everything, You'd be there all day. But some things you may want to go back and take a look at previous rooms.
For whatever reason, photography was strictly forbidden and all the information I am about to tell you comes from the book that I bought on the Armory that have read cover to cover. Yes... I am a nerd and I am perfectly OK with that :-)
The Armory is the oldest Museum in Russia and houses the elaborate treasures of the Dynasties. It is preserved by UNESCO and a World Heritage site now. Everything in this museum dates back to 12th Century to 20th Century. The rooms are broken up into different categories ranging from Russian gold and silverware, European ceremonial weapons, Russian Arms, West European Silver, Precious fabrics, Coronation Gowns, Every type of crown and scepter worn, every throne the different Czar's sat in, harnesses for the horses, carriages, State Regalia, secular dresses, wedding dresses. This place was amazing. Wish I could have taken pictures.
I have never seen so many fine jewels. I am talking Emeralds the size of tea saucers, baseball sized Sapphires and Rubies. Every gospel was encased and adorned with precious jewels and gold. There were cases dedicated to Peter Faberge who created the famous Faberge Egg. I was truly blown away.
Every gift a Czarina ever received was in here.
If your every in Moscow and tour the Kremlin, be sure to check out the Armory Chamber. Definitely worth the time.
