Off Petrovskaya Naberezhnaya, opposite the Nakhimov Navy School
Metro: Gorkovskaya
Open:
Closed
Admission free

Travel back in time by stepping on board this memorial ship, which played an important role in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The cruiser Aurora was built in 1897-1900 by the "New Admiralty" in St Petersburg and joined Russia's Baltic fleet in 1903. The ship is 126.8 meters (418 feet 5 inches) long, 16.8 meters (55 feet 5 inches) wide and weighs 7600 tons. At 20 knots (23.3 miles per hour) it can travel independently for up to 1440 sea miles.

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 the cruiser took part in the Battle of Tsusima. You will see a portrait of the ship's captain killed in that battle - the crew used part of the Aurora's penetrated armor to frame captain Yegoryev's photograph.

In 1917, as the training ship of the Baltic fleet, the Aurora took an active part in the Revolution. On the night of October 25-26, 1917, it fired a blank shot at the Winter Palace (then the residence of the Provisional Government), giving the signal to the rebellious workers, soldiers and sailors to storm the palace. That moment changed Russia's history for over 70 years.

The Aurora is now serviced by cadets from the nearby Nakhimov Navy School. They are frequent guests of the ship's history exhibition. Admission to the Aurora is free, but for an extra fee you can tour the engine-room (ask an attendant).

Top of the page