Cruiser "Aurora"
a veteran ship of the Russian Navy

This historical ship has been turned into a museum and is located just a few hundred yards upstream from the Cabin of Peter the Great, opposite the "St Petersburg" Hotel. The cruiser, built in St Petersburg in 1897-1900, took an active part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. It participated in the Tsusima battle, in which most of Russia's Pacific fleet was destroyed. After the war the ship was used for personnel training and during the October revolution of 1917 gave the signal (by firing a blank shot) to storm of the Winter Palace, which was being used as a residence by the democratic, but largely ineffective Provisional Government.

During World War II and the 900-day Siege of Leningrad the guns of the ship were taken down and used on the front line of the city's defenses. After the war the ship was carefully restored and used as a free museum and training ship for cadets of the nearby Nakhimov Navy School.

Location: Petrovskaia Naberezhnaia (Embankment)
Open 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Monday, Tuesday and the last Wednesday of the month.
Admission free.

Next Topic: The Piskariovskoye Memorial Cemetery

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