Rustam Minnikhanov takes part in reopening of the Lenin museum after large reconstruction in Kazan

On May 22, in Kazan Acting Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party Gennady Zyuganov, Minister of Culture of the republic Airat Sibagatullin, Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin and other officials visited the Lenin memorial house, built in 1937, reopened after large reconstruction.

The museum is one of the oldest in Kazan and a significant culture monument commemorating one of the 20th century world’s most prominent political leaders in his younger years.

The four year reconstruction made it possible to conserve the piece of wooden urban mansion architecture of the second half of the 19th century. The Ulianov family lived in a two-storey annex to the Orlova’s mansion between September 1888 and early May 1889. The phased work has resulted in the restoration and major renovation of the main building.

For the first time in many years, the exhibits were restored as well, allowing to preserve the unique atmosphere of memorial rooms. The interiors, reproduced in the Soviet era with the help of recollections of family members have been added with new pieces, making the picture of everyday life of the Ulianov family more complete.

Director of the Museum Tatiana Basova said the museum have never been closed for visitors, except during the restoration period.

“We expect more Kazan residents and visitors to come to the museum after the reconstruction,” she added.

Visitors were greatly impressed by a ‘live’ picture that, with the help of new technologies and videos, showed the famous student meeting of 4 December 1887 at Kazan University with participation of Lenin.

Following the tour, Zyuganov and Minnikhanov shared their impressions with reporters. “It is a unique building,” Zyuganov said.

He then thanked Tatarstan authorities and Rustam Minnikhanov for the work done in Tatarstan to restore historical monuments.

History should be treated with care, Minnikhanov responded, saying that a lot of mistakes have been made in Kazan, resulting in valuable buildings being lost.

The Lenin museum will be available for visiting to the general public from May 23.