The Communal Bridge, back then (late 1970s)
The Communal Bridge, nowadays.
The unofficial capital of Siberia, the city of Novosibirsk was founded in 1893 with the initial population of only 8,000 people. By the time of the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917, it grew to the population size of 80,000. The name, literally meaning New Siberian City, was adopted in 1926 — and since then, the town had become to grow and prosper.By 1962, Novosibirsk became the youngest city in the world to have the population of 1 million — it only took about 70 years. Now it is an important industrial, cultural and socioeconomic hub of the country.
We realise that today’s post is a little different from our usual format, as the modern pictures of the city are, well, modern and not of the Soviet epoch. It is still nice to see, however, how the city has been changing over the past hundred years — and the old photographs are still full of life and very easy on the eye.
Apartment block nicknamed “The house of porters”. Late 1930s
“The house of porters” now
The Architecture Academy, 1929.
The Architecture Academy now.
The Train Terminal. Early 1930s.
The Train Terminal nowadays.
Now the three images of the City Trade Complex.
Back in those days, the city was called Novo-Nikolaevsk
The City Trade Complex in late 1920s
The Labour Day Parade, 1938.
Still one of the prettiest buildings around.
The Siberian Military HQ. 1940s = please note the horse carriage.
The Siberian Military HQ building, now.
Stalin Street (later renamed as Lenin St). 1938.
Lenin St Now.
Another view of then-Stalin St. Please note the green building of the Opera and Ballet Theatre.
A modern close up of the Opera and Ballet Theatre — it is the largest theatre of the kind in Europe.
The city centre. Note the parking lot for the coachmen.
The same street photographed from a similar spot much later — a modern photo.
And finally some shots of the main street of Novosibirsk — the Krasnyi (“Red”) Road.
1927.
Exactly the same spot — now
The house of the merchant Mashtakov. Late 1920s.
The house of the merchant Mashtakov nowadays.
1960s
1960 – 1965
The Krasnyi Road now.
Most images are courtesy of Egor Egoshin, and we are very grateful for that.