History

The Sergei Kirov Museum is located in a former rental apartment house at 26/28 Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, designed by Leonty Benois, Alexander Benois, Nikolay Benois and Alexander Gunst and built from 1911 to 1914 for the First Russian Insurance Society. It was considered to be one of the most prestigious and comfortable houses of that time built to accommodate top officials, distinguished writers, journalists, architects and other honourable citizens.

After the October Revolution of 1917 the building was nationalized. Part of the quarters was turned into communal flats in which families had single rooms within an apartment and shared bathing and cooking facilities. The most luxurious apartments were passed to Communist Party activists and for the Soviet elite.

In 1926, Sergei Kirov, one of the famous Communist party leaders, moved into the flat 20 on the third floor of the building and lived here until his death in December 1934. From 1926 to 1934 Kirov headed the Leningrad Regional and City Committee of the Communist Party: he was Stalin's closest friend and associate. His assassination, the circumstances of which remain unknown until now, triggered the bloodiest round of the Stalin's terror and repression. Since 1955 the apartment has housed the Sergei Kirov Museum, founded in 1938.

Kirov's memorial flat is remarkable for its collection of authentic personal belongings and almost entirely intact interior elements. The Museum includes exhibitions that reflect social, economic, political and cultural aspects of Leningrad life in the 1920s – 1930s. Kirov's office in Smolny, which was subsequently used by all city administrators, is fully reconstructed in one of the exhibition halls.