About "wasteland with potential" - vvts - vdnh - vshv. All-Union Agricultural Exhibition All-Union Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy

O. NIKOLOGORSKAYA

THE MAIN EXHIBITION OF THE COUNTRY. HISTORY AND MODERNITY

This is what Friendship of Peoples Square (former Kolkhoz Square) looked like before the "commercial invasion" of the early 1990s.

Pavilion "Mechanization". 1939

The arch at the main (now northern) entrance to the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939

The central pavilion of the All-Russian Exhibition Center today.

Kolkhoz Square on the opening day of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. August 1, 1939.

The main entrance to the All-Russian Exhibition Center (opened in 1954).

Fountain "Friendship of Peoples".

The entrance to the "Agriculture" pavilion is decorated with a massive arch with decorative ornaments.

Fountain "Stone flower".

Fountain "Kolos".

Flower gardens near the "Agriculture" pavilion (in the background, on the left, the dome of the "Cosmos" pavilion).

Decorative ornament of columns at the entrance to the "Electrical Engineering" pavilion.

The Vostok spacecraft, an exact copy of the rocket that lifted the first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into Earth's orbit, was installed near the Cosmos pavilion.

"Public transport" at the All-Russian Exhibition Center.

The sculpture by V. I. Mukhina "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" was installed at the main entrance to the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition by the opening day - August 1, 1939. In 1954, this entrance became the northern one, and the main one was located to the south of it.

M. V. NESTEROV Portrait of the sculptor V. I. Mukhina. 1940

It is impossible to talk about this exhibition in isolation from our history. She, as in a mirror, reflected all the stages of development of the former USSR and the new modern Russia. The All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (VSHV), built in 1939, demonstrated the successes of the world's first socialist state in the development of agriculture. Its post-war exposition, which opened only in 1954, was formed following the then principles of economic management, mainly on a territorial basis: each pavilion presented the achievements of one of the union, autonomous republics or regions. In 1959, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was renamed the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy - VDNKh. In connection with the new economic tasks, the principle of building an exposition becomes a sectoral one.

When the USSR sank into oblivion, the exhibition, named in 1992 as the All-Russian Exhibition Center, was hit by all the hardships of the economic crisis. The All-Russian Exhibition Center was unable to hold the position of the country's main exhibition and gradually gave way to a large share of the territory for retail space. But, in spite of everything, active exhibition activity continues here: permanent expositions work, numerous thematic exhibitions and fairs replace one another - industrial, scientific and technical, art, innovation, press (the magazine "Science and Life" takes part in this exhibition for 10 years in a row), new Russian goods, folk art, flowers, the exhibition of scientific and technical creativity of youth has been revived and is regularly updated.

What fate awaits the All-Russian Exhibition Center in the near future? Will there be investments to revive the former glory of the country's main exhibition, or will it completely turn into a trade zone or a park of culture and recreation?

EXHIBITION "CITY" WITH A 63-YEAR HISTORY

The All-Union Exhibition Center is a whole city with its own streets, squares, squares, fountains, "public" transport, cinemas, shops and restaurants. Its main attraction is the exhibition pavilions of various architectural styles created at different times. They reflect the history of the development of our country, or rather, the history itself appears here in wood, stone, glass and metal. As in the old days, the All-Russian Exhibition Center is surrounded by greenery: orchards, ornamental shrubs, bright flower beds, spacious green lawns. All this diversity embodies the age-old experience of gardening and the art of laying out regular parks, where architectural buildings, green spaces, ponds and fountains coexist in perfect harmony.

At one time, the organizers of the exhibition complex were reproached for eclecticism, excessive embellishment and bad taste. Perhaps this is so, from the point of view of a connoisseur of classical architecture. But we must not forget that the exhibition was designed by world-famous architects: V. A. Shchuko, V. G. Gelfreikh, L. M. Polyakov, sculptors S. T. Konenkov and V. I. Mukhina, muralists A. A. Deineka, A.P. Bubnov, P.P. Sokolov-Skalya. Thousands of craftsmen from all Union and autonomous republics, territories and regions participated in the creation of the exhibition. Thanks to their talent, each building of the exhibition acquired original national features inherent only in it. The oldest pavilions are over 60 years old. Not all of them have come down to us in their original form: some were rebuilt, others were destroyed. It is all the more valuable that, on the whole, the architectural and artistic appearance of the exhibition, which was formed in the era of socialism, has been preserved and conveyed to us the spirit of that time.

VSHV 1939

The All-Union Agricultural Exhibition - VSHV - opened in Moscow on August 1, 1939. Every advanced collective farm, state farm, MTS or livestock farm strove to present their products there. The honorary right to visit the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was achieved in socialist competition. The leaders of production participating in the exhibition were awarded diplomas, gold, silver and bronze medals, watches, radios, cash prizes, and the best farms - motorcycles and cars. Only for 85 days of work in 1939 the exhibition was visited by 3.5 million people. The atmosphere of a general holiday that reigned there is conveyed by the famous film directed by Ivan Pyryev "The Pig and the Shepherd" (1941), which was loved and well remembered by people of the older and middle generation.

The well-known Danish writer Martin Andersen-Nekse, having visited the VSHV shortly after its opening, wrote that the picture presented to him gave a deeper idea of ​​humanity as a whole than all the world exhibitions he had seen so far: the true culture of the country was nowhere visible there, and here, in Moscow, it is shown "in time and space".

The grandiose exhibition complex is spread over an area of ​​136 hectares. In a short time, more than 250 large and small buildings were built, parks, flower beds, squares and fountains were laid out, streets were laid, and orchards were planted.

According to the general plan of the architect V. K. Oltarzhevsky, the pavilions were erected along an axis stretching from the northwest to the southeast. At the main entrance, and it was then the northern entrance of the exhibition, visitors were met by a 24-meter sculpture made of stainless steel, sparkling in the sun by V. I. Mukhina "Worker and Collective Farm Woman", which in 1937 crowned the building of the Soviet pavilion at the World Exhibition in Paris .

The All-Union Agricultural Exhibition opened Kolkhoz Square (later - Peoples' Friendship Square), around which the pavilions of the union republics, territories and regions grew. Behind them stretched Mechanization Square with the Mechanization pavilion (later - Industry Square with the Cosmos pavilion), the authors of the project were architects V. S. Andreev, I. G. Taranov. The pavilion was a gigantic parabolic vault covering a wide alley. Tractors, self-propelled harvesters and other agricultural machinery stood on hills along it.

As conceived by the organizers, visitors, bypassing the territory of the exhibition, as if making a trip across our vast country - from the Baltic to Kamchatka and from the Arctic Ocean to the Pamirs. The pavilion of each republic reflected the national flavor and folk traditions. The expositions were decorated with the works of the best artists of Mstera, Khokhloma, Palekh, carpets, tapestries and silk panels of craftswomen from Central Asia. Specially for the exhibition, craftsmen from all republics made beautiful samples of fabrics, dishes, mosaics, and embossing.

PICTURES FROM THE EXHIBITION. HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE

The new permanent exposition of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, which opened for the first time after the war in 1954, demonstrated the achievements of the Union republics, territories and regions in agriculture and industry.

The territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition has expanded to 207 hectares. The number of buildings reached 387. Many pavilions were reconstructed, some were built anew, but the basic layout laid down by the general plan of 1939 has been preserved. In the new master plan, developed under the guidance of architects A.F. Zhukov and R.R. Kliks, only some elements of the ensemble were changed. In this almost original form, we see the exhibition complex today.

In the appearance of the exhibition buildings built by 1954, the architects sought to reflect, first of all, the theme of the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War. An example of this is the new main entrance of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, built to the south of the old one. The author of the project, architect I. I. Melchakov, used one of the symbols of victory - the triumphal arch. He created a high massive multi-span arch with two administrative buildings symmetrically continuing it. Together they stretched 300 meters in length. The main entrance is crowned by the sculpture "Tractor Driver and Collective Farm Woman" (author - sculptor S. M. Orlov, who created a monument to Yuri Dolgoruky in Moscow).

Large-scale, clear lines, aspiration upward - these are the main features of the buildings erected at that time at the exhibition. Such, for example, is the Central Pavilion (architects V. A. Shchuko and V. G. Gelfreikh). With ledges resembling the steps of a giant staircase, it rises to a height of almost 100 meters. The white building is framed by three tiers of columns, decorated with bronze and gilded sculptures and bas-reliefs. In 1954, the architects Yu. V. Schuko and E. V. Stolyarov added a high spire with a star to it.

A wide panorama of the exhibition opens up behind the Central Pavilion. In the foreground is the Friendship of Peoples Square (former Collective Farms Square), huge in size. Its center is occupied by a fountain of the same name made of gilded bronze and red granite (authors - architects K. T. Topuridze and G. D. Konstantinovsky). In the middle of the octahedral granite bowl is a bronze sheaf of wheat surrounded by water jets. Around - a round dance of girls in national costumes. Their dance symbolizes folk festivities on the harvest festival. The gilded figures were carved by sculptors I. M. Chaikov, Z. V. Bazhenov, A. I. Teneta, N. V. Ryleeva.

On the opposite side of the square there is a fountain "Stone Flower" (architect K. T. Topuridze, sculptor P. I. Dobrynin). Its composition is inspired by the poetic Ural tales of P. P. Bazhov. In the pool, lined with red granite, next to the bronze fish and birds, a flower of Ural gems "blooms" with green, blue and gold "petals" shimmering in the jets of water.

On one of the ponds rises the third famous fountain of the exhibition - "Spike". It was built from thin-walled concrete covered with gilded smalt. The complex pattern of flexible jets beating upwards and to the sides creates the impression of a living ear swaying in the wind.

Friendship of Peoples Square is opened by two pavilions facing each other: the Central Black Earth Regions (now - "Nuclear Energy") and the "Northern Caucasus" ("People's Education"). Behind them are the pavilions of the Union republics. In their appearance, the architects sought to express the features of the national style as brightly as possible. This explains the excessive congestion of buildings with decorative details. But there are true architectural masterpieces among the pavilions of the exhibition.

One of them is the pavilion of the Karelian ASSR (later - "The Book", "Soviet Press", now - again "Karelia"). The Republic again presents the products of its enterprises here. The pavilion was created by the architect F.I. Rekhmukov, who used original decor elements from natural materials of this northern region. The columns are made of polished blocks of dark red Karelian granite known for its beauty, and the massive triangular pediment is entirely made of wood. The figures carved on it depict the traditional occupations of the inhabitants of Karelia. At one time, the pavilion was decorated with a three-meter wooden sculpture by S. T. Konenkov "The Rune Singer". Now it is stored in the Museum of Fine Arts of Karelia in Petrozavodsk.

Built in 1939, the pavilion of the Uzbek SSR (now - "Culture") can also be attributed to the pearls of the exhibition. Its author is the architect S. N. Polupanov. The pavilion was decorated by the best craftsmen of Uzbekistan. Their hands made light-filled majolica panels framed by the entrance, carved wooden doors, bright stained-glass windows. Bushes and bolls of cotton - the main agricultural crop of the republic - are woven into the ornament of cornices, capitals of columns, and the roof of the gazebo. The side wings of the pavilion used to be decorated with large picturesque panels by the artist P.I. Kotov. Unfortunately, they have not survived. The plaster figures of a musician and a tambourine player, created by the sculptor O. M. Manuilova, who stood in front of the entrance, were also lost. The pavilion was renovated in the 1950s. A light and elegant openwork gazebo appeared on the spacious terrace.

The Electrical Engineering Pavilion (formerly the Belarusian SSR), designed by architects G. A. Zakharov and Z. S. Chernysheva, is framed by monumental columns with carved garlands resembling embroidered towels in traditional Belarusian colors - yellow and green. A tower with a statue of a woman with a wreath rises above the central part. The author of the sculpture is the People's Artist of Belarus A. O. Bembel, one of the creators of the memorial complex "Mound of Glory" near Minsk.

Behind the fountain "Stone Flower" one can see the facade of the pavilion "Agriculture" (formerly the pavilion of the Ukrainian SSR) with an openwork majolica crown woven from decorative flowers, herbs and ears of corn. The entrance arch is framed by a magnificent ceramic wreath, at the top - a tight sheaf of wheat. The architect A. A. Tatsiy, who designed the building, widely used elements of Ukrainian folk art in its decor.

On June 16, 1959, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition became known as the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR - VDNKh. She represented the successes of the rapidly developing Soviet industry. By 1964, the concept and the general principle of building the exposition according to the sectoral principle were finally formed: the pavilions "Atomic Energy", "Computer Engineering", "Radioelectronics", "Metallurgy", "Chemical Industry", "Gas Industry" and others appeared at the exhibition.

The Cosmos Pavilion (rebuilt Mechanization Pavilion) remained one of the largest. Its glass dome is visible from everywhere. In the mid-1960s, a Vostok launch vehicle was installed in front of the pavilion - a copy of the one that launched the first of earthlings, Yuri Gagarin, into space. This exhibit has become one of the main attractions of the exhibition.

The main task of VDNKh was to promote best practices. Representatives of various specialties improved their skills and learned new methods of work here. The pavilions hosted scientific and technical conferences, reviews, exhibitions, seminars, courses, schools of excellence. Every year 200-300 thousand people participated in them. International events were also organized, especially at book fairs. In those years, VDNKh received more than 8 million visitors a year.

TIME FOR NEW FORMS

In the late 1960s, a new pavilion grew up near the northern entrance, which became known as the "Montreal" pavilion. It was designed by architects M. V. Posokhin, A. A. Mdoyants, B. I. Thor, engineer A. N. Kondratiev, chief artist R. R. Clique for the World Exhibition "Expo-67", held in Montreal. The exhibition demonstrated the achievements of the economy, science, technology, culture and art.

Impressive in size, dressed in glass, the Soviet pavilion surprised everyone - both visitors and specialists. Its huge, almost one hectare, concave and protruding roof rests on just two V-shaped steel supports - at that time a unique architectural and technical solution. The building seems light, directed forward. This feeling is created by a slight slope of the front glass wall and a large visor resembling a springboard over the entrance.

When the exhibition in Montreal ended, the pavilion was dismantled, brought to Moscow and installed next to VDNKh (now it is the territory of the exhibition complex).

In 1986, here, in the northern part of the exhibition, the pavilion "Consumer Goods and Services to the Population" was built. It was built by a team of architects and engineers under the leadership of I. M. Vinogradsky. The two triangular buildings are connected by a wide inner street illuminated by daylight through a transparent glass ceiling. This through passage, as it were, continues the alley that leads to the northern (formerly the main) entrance of the exhibition. Next to it, at the beginning of the alley, stands an elegant white arch, built in 1939, with carved floral ornaments that tightly cover its walls and the domed space. The second arch similar to it is the entrance to the consumer goods pavilion. This decision made it possible to link together modern architecture and the old exhibition building.

TOMORROW VVC

In 1992, VDNKh was renamed again. The new name - All-Russian Exhibition Center - took root with difficulty, but today it is unlikely that anyone will call the exhibition complex in the old way. What is the All-Russian Exhibition Center of the beginning of 2003? It occupies an area of ​​more than 238 hectares, it houses 70 pavilions (46 of them are monuments of history and culture), unique fountains, squares and other examples of landscape architecture. On the other hand, the All-Russian Exhibition Center is also a huge market where you can buy any product - from a needle to a car. Crowds of buyers, a heap of tents, bistros and eateries, cluttered and dilapidated pavilions, and in them - trade counters instead of expositions... At the same time, the exhibition complex continues to live its main life: more than 300 exhibitions and fairs, including international ones, are held here every year . At the same time in 20 pavilions (the rest have to be leased to trade organizations) 130 thousand square meters can be used. m of exhibition space.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center will continue to organize exhibition and fair activities that promote the development of the economic, scientific, technical and social infrastructure of Russia, interregional and international cooperation, the formation of a market for innovative products and intellectual property, and the introduction of high technologies and developments into production. Now, for example, preparations are underway for holding in July this year the IX International Exhibition of Youth Scientific and Technical Projects "EXPO Science-2003". It will be a grandiose youth forum, which will be attended by more than 2,000 participants from 80 countries.

The revival of the All-Russian Exhibition Center as an exhibition of achievements in science, technology, culture and agriculture could be facilitated by a grandiose political investment project of holding the World Exhibition "EXPO-2010" in Moscow, on its territory. But Moscow did not win the competition; according to the international selection committee, the Chinese city of Shanghai turned out to be a more worthy contender. Nevertheless, plans related to the preservation of the exhibition complex, the development of its infrastructure, the construction of new areas, transport services, etc., are already being implemented.

A flyover is being built near the All-Russian Exhibition Center for a new type of urban public transport - a monorail. It will start at the Timiryazevskaya metro station, then go through the Botanical Garden to Ostankino, go around the All-Russian Exhibition Center from the side of the main entrance and end at the tram depot, which will be converted into monorail transport. The overpass will be raised above the ground to a height of 6-15 meters (depending on the development and terrain). Trains made up of 2-6 wagons will be able to reach speeds of up to 60 km/h and carry up to 4,000 passengers per hour. The construction of a monorail will cost an average of 5 times less than the subway. Construction, financed from the Moscow budget, is already in full swing. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2003.

It is planned to realize other ideas of architects and designers. Among them - the construction of 150 thousand square meters. m of new exhibition space. As this grandiose investment project is being implemented (work is scheduled to start in 2004), the exhibition complex will receive a profit, which, according to calculations, will finally allow to stop renting out pavilions and open areas to trading organizations. In the future, the All-Russian Exhibition Center will have moving sidewalks - travelators, new forms of lighting masts, lanterns, billboards, newsstands and information kiosks. The architectural and park ensemble will cover both the Botanical Garden and the territory of the Ostankino Park, where there is a monument of history and architecture of the 18th century - the palace of Count Sheremetev and the adjacent oak grove and a cascade of ponds.

The All-Union Exhibition Center is visited annually by 11 million people. In the very near future, it should expand significantly, get prettier, acquire modern infrastructure in order to become on a par with the world's best complexes for holding major international exhibitions.

IN THE NEW AGE - IN NEW CLOTHES

One of the most famous sculptural monuments of the 20th century, the work of V.I. Mukhina "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" became for the Soviet people a symbol of the unity and youth of the country, and for the rest of the world - the personification of the image of socialist Russia. The famous sculpture is already over 60, but it looks like it will get younger in the near future: repairs, restoration and a change of pedestal are waiting for it.

The International Exhibition "Art, Technology and Modern Life" opened in Paris in May 1937. It was the year of the twentieth anniversary of the October Revolution - a serious occasion to demonstrate to the whole world the best achievements of the Land of Soviets. The designers were given a difficult task: to create a pavilion in a short time that would capture the imagination of visitors to the Paris exhibition.

The architect B. M. Iofan, who was entrusted with the project of the Soviet pavilion, wrote: “The pavilion was drawn as a building that reflects with its dynamics the powerful growth of the achievements of the world's first socialist state, the enthusiasm and cheerfulness of the great era of building socialism, when work is a matter of honor, valor and heroism. This idea had to be expressed so clearly that any person, at the first glance at our pavilion, felt that this was the pavilion of the Soviet Union. " According to his plan, the top of the building directed forward and upward with ledges was to be crowned with a sculptural composition - a girl and a young man with a sickle and a hammer in their hands, personifying the unity of the working class and the collective farm peasantry.

In order to choose a worthy performer of such a responsible work, a competition was organized in which the largest sculptors of that time took part - I. D. Shadr, M. G. Manizer, V. A. Andreev, V. I. Mukhina. The sketch of the sculpture "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" by Vera Ignatievna Mukhina was recognized as the best.

Mukhina managed to achieve a synthesis of the architectural and sculptural parts of the ensemble. Her composition continued the general silhouette of the building, and the figures with the hammer and sickle raised high in their joined hands turned, in the author's words, "a solemn tread into an all-destroying impulse."

The project was approved on November 11, 1936. At first it seemed that all that remained was to enlarge the sketch to the desired size. In fact, the creators of the monument had to overcome many technical problems. Now, after the lapse of time, it seems almost unbelievable that such a huge and complex sculptural composition could be created in less than one year.

The 24-meter monument had to be raised to a 34-meter height. Stone or bronze, as heavy materials, were not suitable for this. Then the specialists of the Scientific Research Institute of Metalworking proposed the use of strategic chromium-nickel (stainless) steel - a light, durable and pliable material, ideally suited for the implementation of the author's plan. VI Mukhina went on a risky experiment and "sculpted" a sculpture of stainless steel. Invaluable technical assistance was provided to her by the chief engineer of the institute P. N. Lvov. The factory produced steel sheets only half a millimeter thick, and work began.

The tight deadlines forced the idea of ​​creating a full-size plaster model to be abandoned. We settled on a sculpture measuring 165 cm. (Made in bronze, now it is in the Tretyakov Gallery.) P. N. Lvov, especially for "Worker and Collective Farm Woman", developed an original method for enlarging fragments of the composition to the desired size. Only the heads, as the most important elements, were first sculpted from clay on a scale of 1:1.

The model was handed over to the factory, and there Vera Ignatievna and her two assistants - sculptors Z. G. Ivanova and N. G. Zelenskaya, together with engineers and workers, essentially “beat out” fragments of figures from metal. When they were all ready, they began to assemble the individual parts of the statue into a single whole. The work was so intense that Mukhina sometimes did not leave the workshop for days.

“February and March of this year were not kind,” Vera Ignatievna later recalled, “there were almost no sunny days: either frost, or rain, or blizzard. The frame and forests were covered with ice, but the two giants were systematically covered with steel. the other lifted parts of the statue. The legs stood in place, the torsos were put on, floated through the air and fused with the bodies of the hands, then the heads, and finally, the crossed hammer and sickle crowned the statue. "

Despite the lightness of the material, the sculpture weighed 75 tons. Before being sent to Paris, the steel giant was dismantled into 65 parts and loaded into 28 railway cars. V. I. Mukhina and Z. G. Ivanova, with a group of engineers and workers, followed them to mount and install the statue. It was assembled, fastened and welded for 11 days.

Finally, the finished sculpture took its place at the top of the Soviet pavilion. Crowned with a mighty statue, he riveted the eyes of all visitors to the exhibition. Sculpture by V. I. Mukhina left an indelible impression. Against the background of floating clouds, the movement of the figures seemed real, almost physically palpable. She was spoken of as a miracle, compared with Nika of Samothrace.

Romain Rolland, who visited the Paris Exhibition, wrote in his guest book: “At the International Exhibition on the banks of the Seine, two young Soviet giants in an indomitable impulse raise the hammer and sickle, and we hear the heroic hymn pouring from the chest, which calls the peoples to freedom, to unity and will lead them to victory."

The participation of the USSR in the World Exhibition in Paris was more than successful. It contributed to strengthening the authority of our country in the international arena. The image of the sculpture "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" was replicated on posters, postcards, badges, which scattered all over the planet. The name of Vera Ignatievna Mukhina became known to the whole world.

But now the exhibition is over... The French liked the sculpture so much that they didn't want to part with it. And only after the insistent request of the Soviet government "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" was dismantled and sent to the USSR. During dismantling and transportation, the sculpture was badly damaged, so it had to be recreated almost from scratch.

In 1939, the statue was erected in front of the entrance to the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow. And here she immediately won universal recognition and immense popularity. The famous creation of Mukhina became the emblem of the Mosfilm film studio, her image appeared on the first frames of any film of this studio. In December 1984, the sculpture was made the emblem of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy to replace the former one - "Tractor Driver and Collective Farm Girl".

To the great regret of the author, in Moscow the sculpture was installed on a pedestal too low for it, which violated the proportions of the monument, designed for viewing at a high altitude. “Sculpture crawls on the ground,” V.I. Mukhina said bitterly and dreamed that her brainchild would be transported to the Sparrow (Lenin) Hills. There, at the height of the observation deck, the monument would have looked much more advantageous. But, despite the high appreciation of the work of V. I. Mukhina (in 1938 she was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, and in 1941 - the Stalin Prize), all attempts to achieve a more suitable pedestal for the "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" did not lead to anything . The statue remained standing at a 10-meter height not far from the northern entrance to VDNKh, closed in a cramped space of a small area.

Over the past decades, the monument has been cleaned and repaired only a few times, the last one almost 20 years ago. The steel was covered with dirt and almost lost its former luster. The metal frame also needs reconstruction: due to the moisture accumulating inside, the connecting frames have rusted. Pieces of granite are falling off the facing of the pedestal. Even the "fluttering in the wind" scarf - Mukhina's brilliant find - was somehow deformed and drooped ...

The Moscow government found a way to save the "Worker and Collective Farm Girl". The sculpture will be restored and installed at a height of 35 meters, most likely on the roof of a new business center. Perhaps, for the updated statue, they will erect their own pedestal, repeating the architectural forms of the pavilion created in 1937 for the World Exhibition in Paris. It is assumed that an observation deck will be built at the feet of the giants. The costs are borne by the company, which has been allocated an adjacent plot of land for the construction of a multi-storey car park and a shopping complex. During the reconstruction, the frame of the sculpture will be made of titanium, the figures will be coated with a special anti-corrosion compound.

The restoration and raising of the monument will be carried out by the production and creative workshops of "BIOR" under the supervision of specialists from the Main Directorate for the Protection of Monuments of the City of Moscow. Work is expected to begin this year. And in 2005, after the completion of the construction of the shopping complex, the sculpture by V. I. Mukhina "Worker and Collective Farm Girl" will regain its former grandeur and beauty.

On the site of the Ostankino swamps, where in 1934 the NKVD dispersed the gypsy camp that had settled there, five years later one of the main cultural places of the capital appeared, which throughout its history has attracted tourists from all over the world. VDNKh (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy), and later VVTs (All-Russian Exhibition Center) - a grandiose exhibition of achievements of the national economy, which during its existence was visited by every eighth inhabitant of the planet ...

The history of the "Main Exhibition of the Country" began with the appeal of the II All-Union Congress of Collective Farmers-Shock Workers to the central bodies of the Communist Party and the government with a request to organize an All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow. The request was granted, and the Main Exhibition Committee was created.

In order to be eligible to participate in the All-Union Exhibition, collective farms, state farms, machine and tractor stations, scientific institutions had to have certain indicators for 1937 and 1938, and leaders and organizers of agriculture for 1938. Thanks to this condition, no agricultural exhibition in the world had such a large number of exhibitors.

The popularity of the forthcoming Exhibition among agricultural workers was unusually great. Millions of collective and state farm workers, thousands of agronomists, livestock specialists, and machine operators fought for the right to participate in it. The exhibition committee received about 250 thousand applications for the desire to be its exhibitor.

The Main Exhibition Committee established awards: a thousand diplomas of the first degree and four thousand of the second degree. Farms awarded with a diploma of the first degree received 10 thousand rubles and a car, and those awarded with a diploma of the second degree - 5 thousand rubles and a motorcycle.

For agricultural leaders, one thousand large and two thousand small gold medals, three thousand large and fifteen thousand small silver medals were established.

In addition, a Book of Honor was established, where each exhibitor was entered with an indication of his achievements.

The All-Union Agricultural Exhibition also became a kind of contribution to the architecture of the capital. A whole exhibition city with an area of ​​136 hectares, which grew up on its northern outskirts, included ponds, parks, experimental plots, and 250 various buildings.

Crops and plantations, which occupied about 20 hectares, represented the agriculture of the entire Soviet Union. About 600 varieties of various crops were sown on one grain plot. An amazing picture was the exhibition garden: about 10 thousand plants were planted in it. Among them are 600 varieties of fruit and berry crops, the richest collection of Michurin varieties.

On the site of industrial and southern heat-loving crops, the visitor saw the crops of cotton, rice, beets, flax, hemp, tobacco, kenaf, rubber plants, and hops. In total, 260 crops of more than 3 thousand varieties were exhibited in open areas.

The architectural ensemble of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was created by architects V.Shchuko, V.Geilfreikh, L.Polyakov, D.Chechulin, sculptors S.Konenkov, GMotovilov; muralists A.Deineka, A.Bubnov, P.Sokolov-Skal and many other talented artists. More than two thousand professionals and craftsmen worked under the leadership of the chief architect S. Chernyshev.

The exhibition city in Moscow adorned the entire Soviet people with great love.

The country was preparing for the opening of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition as a great national holiday. It took place on August 1, 1939. The first visitors entered through an arch designed by the architect L. Polyakov in the tradition of ancient Roman triumphal arches.

The solemn ceremony, which was attended by more than 10 thousand people, was attended by the leaders of the party and the Soviet state. At the entrance to the Exhibition, there was a 24-meter sculptural group "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" by the outstanding sculpture of V. Mukhina.

The emblem of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was a grandiose sculptural group depicting a tractor driver and a collective farmer, raising a golden sheaf of wheat high above their heads. It was installed on the 50-meter tower of the Main Pavilion, which was a monumental white building with a beautiful colonnade. The facade of the building was decorated with the emblems of the Union republics and the emblem of the Soviet Union.

From the Main Pavilion the visitor got to one of the most beautiful squares - Kolkhoz Square.

The pavilions of the union republics, territories and regions are located here and on the adjacent alleys. Bypassing these palaces-pavilions, the visitor, as it were, made a journey through the vast expanses of our Motherland: from the icy expanses of the harsh Arctic to the evergreen subtropics, from Kamchatka to the Baltic.

Each pavilion stood out for its originality, with the use of national motifs in the construction.

On the vast area of ​​the Kolkhozes, the building of the Moscow Pavilion (Pavilion "Grain", currently Pavilion No. 59), built of stone, concrete, glass, decorated with stainless steel, designed by architect A. Chechulin, attracted special attention. The facade was framed with high reliefs, figures of vegetable growers, milkmaids, gardeners, tractor drivers.

Fat animals, golden sheaves of wheat, large tubers of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and other vegetables were also depicted here. The slogan "Let's create potato-vegetable and livestock bases around Moscow and other large cities" is engraved all over the facade. At the very top, the Order of Lenin is an award from the Moscow Region for the successes achieved in agriculture.

The pavilion "Ukraine" is located nearby. It was built according to the project of the architects A. Tatsiy and K. Ivanchenko, lined with Ukrainian majolica tiles, the facade is decorated with golden ears, the entrance arch is framed by a decorative ceramic wreath, a stained-glass window above the entrance - "Pereyaslavskaya Rada".

One of the sections of the exhibition in 1939 was the section "New in the countryside". It is spread over a plot of 12 hectares. New Soviet village was demonstrated here. According to standard projects recommended for mass construction, the following were built: a village council, a collective farm board, a machine and tractor station, livestock farms, a collective farm club, a school, a maternity hospital, and a nursery.

Of particular interest was the manger, because the village had no idea about them. All these buildings and now, somewhat updated, serve as offices for the departments of the All-Russian Exhibition Center.

The pavilion "Hunting and fur farming" aroused interest, where the Pushkin fur farm was demonstrated, one of the first to start breeding sable in captivity. In the open area in front of the pavilion, river beavers, nutrias, and muskrats were shown, living here in conditions close to natural.

There was a working model of a collective farm hydroelectric power station on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. It stood on the Kamenka River, which flows through the territory of the Exhibition. It was cleared of reeds and an earthen dam about 5 meters high was built. The current from the station was supplied to a neighboring building, where agricultural machines were installed, driven by electric motors.

VSHV-39 has become not only a school of excellence, impressively demonstrating the achievements of agriculture, but also a favorite vacation spot for Muscovites and guests of the capital. In a large old park adjacent to the Exhibition, a recreation area was laid out. Various attractions were opened: a parachute tower, a Ferris wheel, a laughter room, carousels, etc. A children's town with playgrounds was created for children.

The Green Theatre, a concert stage, a circus, and two cinemas were built at the Exhibition itself.

The success of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was enormous. From August 1 to October 25, over 3.5 million people visited it.

2,000 guides and 1,000 group guides worked at the VSHV. Two hundred guides served foreign guests, whose interest in the Soviet exhibition was unusual. Despite the fact that the Exhibition was conceived as a one-time event, the party and the government decided to continue its work. In 1940, the exhibition ran for 5 months and was visited by 4.5 million people.

In 1941, it operated for only 1 month and five days... During the Great Patriotic War, the exposition and the library of the Exhibition were evacuated to Chelyabinsk.

Again, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition received visitors only on August 1, 1954. Its goal was to widely promote the achievements of agriculture, the fastest introduction of advanced experience into collective farm and state farm production.

To take part in the post-war Exhibition, it was necessary to achieve higher results than before. So, to participate in VSHV-39, the collective farm of the non-chernozem strip had to collect 12-14 centners of wheat per hectare, and in 1954 - at least 19!

The architectural appearance of the Exhibition has changed radically. Huge construction work has been carried out, its area has significantly increased - up to 207 hectares. The pavilions of the Baltic republics were erected.

The pavilion "Uzbekistan" was built - one of the most beautiful pavilions, now it is - "Culture". The entrance to the pavilion is decorated with an openwork rotunda, inside there is a fountain that emphasizes the lightness and elegance of its columns. An ornament depicting bushes and cotton bolls decorating the rotunda. The work of the best masters of Uzbekistan.

The Arch of the Main Entrance to the Exhibition was built. Powerful tetrahedral columns easily carry a massive arch, dividing it into central and side spans. There are bas-reliefs on the columns, the main theme of which is the labor of people. The arch is crowned by the sculptural group "Tractor Driver and Collective Farm Woman", with a highly raised sheaf of wheat.

The Main Pavilion, a powerful colonnade, six-meter sculptural groups raised high, numerous bas-reliefs, a 35-meter spire topped with a golden star were completed. A monument to V. Lenin was erected in front of the pavilion.

The Friendship of Peoples fountain was built on Kolkhozov Square. Collective farmers in national costumes lead a festive round dance. The fountain ejects every second more than a ton of water to the height of an eight-story building. Sculptors Z. Bazhenova, L. Bazhenov, A. Teneta, Z. Ryleeva, I. Chaikov made bronze sculptures with the thinnest gold plating, sheaves - from sheet, gilded copper.

The Friendship of Peoples fountain, designed by architects K. Topuridze and G. Konstantinovsky, has outlived its ideological meaning, but its beauty and originality continue to delight the guests of the exhibition.

At the opposite end of Kolkhozov Square, there is the Stone Flower fountain, built based on the tales of Bazhov. In a vast pool, framed by red polished granite, a fantastic stone flower made of multi-colored alloys rises.

Bronze fish and birds splash in the pool. On the sides - decorative slides of fruits and vegetables. And to this day, these fountains are the best decoration of the exhibition.

In each pavilion, the achievements of the branches of the national economy in the republic, regions, districts were demonstrated.

The green attire of the exhibition was exceptionally rich. Almost the entire flora of the Soviet Union was represented on its territory. The exhibition town was decorated with 40,000 ornamental trees and 450,000 bushes. Approximately 5.5 million annual and perennial flowers. The rose garden was the pride of the exhibition gardeners - about 50 thousand varietal roses grew in it.

From morning to evening, visitors were drawn to the livestock pavilions in an endless stream. Only in 1954 this section showed 800 head of cattle of 32 breeds, 800 sheep of 53 breeds, 500 pigs of 30 breeds, 3000 heads of poultry. Animals were demonstrated on a hatcher circle. It was a spectacular sight. From early morning in the livestock town there was a revival: the animals were scraped, cleaned, washed. Then the representatives of the farms in colorful national costumes showed their pets to the authoritative jury and spectators.

At the pavilion "Horse breeding" one could see two sculptures of horses. One depicted the famous hippodrome fighter, the stallion of the Square of the Oryol trotting breed, the other stallion - the Symbol of the Budennovskaya breed. In the pavilion, visitors could admire these beauties and several dozen horses of the Oryol, Russian trotting, Soviet draft and other breeds.

New agricultural machinery was demonstrated at open areas.

On the basis of the Exhibition, training was conducted on new methods of work, excursions to advanced farms were practiced. Excursion activities were improved, groups of tourists were formed from workers of the same profession.

Since June 1956 on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition began its work All-Union Industrial Exhibition, whose main task was to demonstrate the success of the industry.

One of the significant and promising exhibits was the first electronic computer. The creation of this technique in the Soviet Union began in 1948.

The exposition of the exhibition is located in 21 pavilions, which were grouped mainly on Mechanization Square. The first Soviet passenger jet airliner, designed and built under the guidance of the outstanding aircraft designer A. Tupolev, was installed here.

One of the main pavilions of the industrial exhibition was the Mechanical Engineering pavilion. It was surrounded by many open spaces. On which samples of new technology were demonstrated.

Creation in 1959 VDNKh of the USSR

VDNH was established in accordance with the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR dated May 28, 1958 "On the unification of the All-Union industrial, agricultural and construction exhibitions (on Frunzenskaya Embankment) into a single Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR."

On June 16, 1959, VDNKh of the USSR hospitably opened the doors of its pavilions to visitors. In 1963, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a resolution "On the restructuring of the VDNKh of the USSR."

Exhibition activities began to be built according to the production-industry principle. Thematic exhibitions and reviews have become of paramount importance in the work of all pavilions. On their basis, an exchange of experience and training of workers in industry, construction, and agriculture were widely held.

Such an organization made it possible to significantly accelerate the introduction of new equipment and modern labor methods into production. About 300 exhibitions and reviews were opened annually at VDNKh of the USSR, which showed more than 100 thousand exhibits.

VDNKh of the USSR reflected as a mirror the main milestones in the life of the country, such as the first flight into space by Y. Gagarin, the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline, etc.

There were also mysterious, and sometimes even mystical moments in the history of the construction of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. One of these mystical stories tells that Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Oltarzhevsky (the chief architect of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition) decided to make the exhibition not just the cultural center of the Soviet Union, but the center of the entire Universe.

If you look at the master plan of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, you can see that the mechanization area, being the center of the exhibition, resembles the sun, around which nine planets are located. On this square, according to his idea, the figure of Lenin was supposed to rise.

From the Mechanization Square, as from the biblical Tree of Life, four sources scatter, which at the point of intersection, as in a coordinate system, form the beginning of all beginnings. This system is formed with mathematical precision - like the Egyptian pyramids - and is enclosed in a regular octagon - a Christian symbol of renewal and newfound heavenly bliss. These signs were combined with a huge cross and all kinds of symbols of Buddhist and Hindu myths.

V.K. Oltarzhevsky, R.L. Podolsky, N.V. Alekseev, A.B. Boretsky, D.G. Oltarzhevsky. VSHV planning project. Perspective.

But after a short amount of time, the chief architect of the All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition was sent beyond the Arctic Circle, and the plan of the exhibition was changed. There, a specialist in high-rise buildings, who for ten years adopted the experience of building skyscrapers in the United States of America, was put to good use - he began to design camp barracks. Oltarzhevsky learned about the opening of the exhibition he once created only from a film magazine.

Vyacheslav Konstantinovich Oltarzhevsky

For several years after its opening, the exhibition multiplied and never ceased to amaze numerous visitors. So it was until 1941, before the start of the war. During the difficult war years, anti-aircraft installations stood here, and all kinds of pavilions were closed and deprived of visitors. Interestingly, during the entire war, not a single enemy bomb fell on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (with an area of ​​​​135 hectares).

At the same time, in 1942, the chief architect of the exhibition was given back his freedom, after which he became the leader's personal consultant on high-rise construction.

The second opening of the exhibition took place on August 1, 1954. At the entrance, people were greeted by a newly rebuilt arch of stunning dimensions and they were surprised by the absence of the figure of Stalin, in the place of which the fountain of Friendship of Peoples was opened. Sixteen gilded statues were originally supposed to symbolize the union of all republics. But soon, when only fifteen republics remained, the symbolism once again diverged from reality.

Soon the exhibition became completely industrial, and in 1959 it received a new name - VDNKh (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy) of the USSR.

After the first manned flight into space, in 1961, the exhibition, among other things, was decorated with a copy of Gagarin's rocket. By the way, it was installed on the Mechanization Square, in the same mystical center where, according to Oltarzhevsky's plans, the figure of the then leader was supposed to rise.

By the way, after his release in 1943, Vyacheslav Konstantinovich himself never visited his creation. He died in 1966 at the age of 86.

Since 1992 - All-Russian Exhibition Center

On June 23, 1992, by the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation and the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, VDNH was renamed into the State Joint-Stock Company All-Russian Exhibition Center (GAO VVTs).

In the 90s, the All-Russian Exhibition Center was considered an exhibition, rather, formally. In fact, the pavilions were leased for warehouses and points of sale of household, computer equipment, as well as various consumer goods. At the same time, an amusement park worked, in the "Central" pavilion for children and youth various physical experiments were shown - the All-Russian Exhibition Center was still a place where they came to relax, but devastation and trade spoiled the whole impression.

In 2002, an application was submitted to hold the prestigious international exhibition "EXPO - 2010" in Moscow. Unfortunately, the application was not accepted, but despite this, for many residents of Moscow VDNH is the place of the first date or other romantic adventures.

People walk around these magnificent places, shop, look at the achievements of science and technology brought from all over the world, dream, and simply recharge with good mood and positive energy.

Compilation of material - FOX

Design and construction in Moscow of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, which opened in 1939. At first it was assumed that the exhibition would be temporary (like its predecessor in 1923), but then it was considered expedient to turn it into a permanent school for the exchange of scientific and practical experience in the field of agriculture.

The total area of ​​the first stage of the exhibition was 136 hectares and was located between the Ostankino Park and the Yaroslavl Highway (now Prospekt Mira). The program content of the exhibition, which had developed by 1937, was convincingly reflected in the master plan with clearly defined regular highways and vast areas for the one-time reception of large masses of visitors and large public events. At the same time, the allocation of separate functional areas with picturesque walking paths provided the opportunity for a thorough study of individual expositions by excursions, groups and single visitors.

From the introductory square at the entrance, visitors got to the rectangular Kolkhoz Square, at the beginning of which the Main Pavilion was located (V. Shchuko, V. Gelfreich, etc.). Its clear geometric volume with porticos on all sides made of simple rectangular pillars brought a note of strict solemnity into the architecture of the exhibition. A tower was built diagonally to the main entrance to the pavilion, crowned with a sculpture of a collective farmer and a collective farmer who raised a golden sheaf of wheat high (sculptors R. Budilov and A. Strekavin). The main pavilion and the tower well emphasized the beginning of the entire architectural composition - Kolkhoz Square, along the perimeter of which there are pavilions of the Union republics and some territories and regions of the RSFSR.

The architecture of these pavilions is varied. The authors were given the task of interpreting the image of each building as a symbol, a sign of national identity. For an exhibition, this is quite logical, as well as the widespread use of monumental decorative and applied art. The authors of many pavilions, together with painters, sculptors and folk craftsmen, by implementing such a program, have achieved - within the framework of the current direction of architecture - interesting solutions. Thus, in the pavilion of the Uzbek SSR (S. Polupanov), the construction of an iwan with a decorative multicolored openwork arbor was directly associated with the folk architecture of Uzbekistan. The pavilions of the Georgian SSR (A. Kurdiani and G. Lezhava), the Armenian SSR (K. Alabyan and S. Safaryan), the Azerbaijan SSR (S. Dadashev and A. Useinov) and a number of other pavilions were designed in the same figurative vein. It is important to note that the originality of the image-symbol was most often achieved not only by purely decorative processing, but, above all, by purely architectural means. It is enough to compare the construction of the pavilion of Georgia - with its inner courtyard, bunches of finely traced columns of the portal, with the three-nave basilica form of the pavilion of Armenia, in order to agree that the very architecture of these pavilions acts as a sign and image of Georgia and Armenia.

Behind the Kolkhoz Square, a wide landscaped highway, also lined with pavilions, led to the octagonal Mechanization Square, which overlooked the facades of industry pavilions (“Grain”, “Livestock”, etc.) and which closed with the pavilion “Agricultural Mechanization” (V. Andreev and I. . Taranov).

Parabolic lattice arches made of metal carried a light aluminum coating, forming a vaulted passageway. On the sides of the pavilion space, as if on pedestals, various agricultural machines - exhibits of the exhibition - were placed on two levels. The interior spaces of these "pedestals" were used as exhibition halls. Behind the pavilion there was a recreation area with restaurants, cafes, playgrounds, walking paths and water spaces of picturesque ponds. On the sides of the compositional axis of the exhibition there were pavilions, experimental fields and exhibits of individual branches of agriculture. The exhibition "New in the construction of a collective farm village" was also located here.

The new exhibition has firmly entered the life of Moscow, into the structure of its master plan. In the works on its design and construction, in addition to well-known masters, a whole galaxy of young talented architects came to the fore - Yu. Emelyanov, V. Andreev, I. Taranov, M. Olenev, G. Zakharov, P. Revyakin, S. Polupanov, I. Melchakov and many other. Sculptors G. Motovilov, A. Baburin, R. Budilov, A. Sabsay, A. Strekavin, painters A. Gerasimov, S. Gerasimov, L. Bruni, A. Deineka and many others took part in the work.

Later, after 1955, the Exhibition, which was significantly expanded in the post-war period, was criticized for its decorativeness, embellishment, etc. There was a lot of fairness in the criticism, but at the same time the specifics of the exhibition as such were ignored, where architecture solved not only the functional tasks of receiving visitors and displaying exhibits, but she herself acted as an exhibit. The mistake of those years was the mechanical transfer of the experience of the Exhibition to mass architecture.

The photo project "City to Remember" is a story about the city in dynamics, about how the face of the capital is changing. In these stories there is the outgoing nature of the Soviet era, and the embodiment of the creative ideas of modern architects, and reportage photography. So, #slovomoskve, let's remember the most interesting thing. This story, number 250, was first published on June 9, 2016.

For the first time, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (later known as VDNKh) opened for visitors on August 1, 1939, but did not work for long, the war began. Valuable exhibits were evacuated, the pavilions were empty, and batteries of anti-aircraft guns were installed on the territory. Graceful wooden pavilions turned out to be short-lived and by the post-war opening of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition they were replaced by new, even more solemn ones.

In 1935, at the II All-Union Congress of Collective Farmers-Shock Workers, a proposal was considered to organize an All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in 1937 in Moscow. The delegates unanimously supported this idea, and immediately a decree “On the organization of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in Moscow” appeared, signed by Stalin and Molotov.

The architects considered several options for accommodating the exhibition (Timiryazev Academy, Sokolniki, Krasnaya Presnya Park of Culture and Leisure, Luzhnetskaya Embankment, Leninskiye Gory), but found flaws everywhere. As a result, another decree of the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR "On the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition" appeared, ordering to build an exhibition in Ostankino. This site is located near the transport highway, is sparsely populated and does not require mass resettlement of residents, the terrain is flat. Vyacheslav Oltarzhevsky was appointed the chief architect of the exhibition.

The master plan of the exhibition was presented on a competitive basis by several teams, but none of them became the winner, but Oltarzhevsky took into account all the successful proposals and drew up his master plan. After carrying out topographic surveys, the construction of warehouses and change houses for workers began, and in 1936, the improvement of the territory began. It soon became clear that the projects of the pavilions were going through the approval stage for too long, the builders could not keep up with the work schedule, and the opening of the exhibition in 1937 would not take place. According to the decree "On the elimination of the consequences of sabotage at the construction of an agricultural exhibition," the authorities began to expose the enemies of the people, arresting the top of the Main Exhibition Committee - M. Chernov, I. Korostashevsky, R. Eikhe and others.

In the spring of 1938, accusations against the chief architect of the exhibition, Oltarzhevsky, began to appear in the Soviet press - he was accused of miscalculations in the architectural design of the pavilions, an unsuccessful master plan of the complex, “devoid of festivity and brightness”. Oltarzhevsky, who was exiled to Vorkuta, was replaced by Sergei Chernyshov. During this period, the builders showed miracles of heroism, having done a huge amount of work.

Aerial photography. 1942: http://www.retromap.ru/ Well, perhaps from a height the layout really looks somehow crooked, from the Mukhin monument "Worker and Collective Farm Woman" (in the lower right corner) the road leads to the arch and then past the Uzbek teahouse and "Young Naturalists" from the side leads to the then Main Pavilion, squeezed from two sides by other buildings.

On August 1, 1939, with a two-year delay, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition nevertheless opened and the wasteland on the outskirts of Moscow turned into a garden city with pavilions, ponds, and fountains. Architects who escaped repression received well-deserved government awards. The exhibition was highly appreciated by Vyacheslav Molotov: “The opening of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition is a national celebration ... It sums up the decade during which the peasant masses finally turned from small individual to large collective farms ... The exhibition gives living examples of the growth of collective farms and state farms, their prosperous and cultural life.

The All-Union Agricultural Exhibition worked for only two seasons, and soon after the start of the Great Patriotic War, in July 1941, especially valuable exhibits began to be evacuated to the east. Many employees went to the front, and a counterintelligence school and a military repair plant that assembles motorcycles were located on the territory of the exhibition. In 1941, the film crew of Ivan Pyryev's film "The Pig and the Shepherd" received permission to complete work on the film here. Alas, by the victorious May 1945, desolation reigned on the territory.

In 1948, the Council of Ministers of the USSR decided to restore the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. The second birth of the exhibition took place on August 1, 1954, when the country rose from the ruins of war. Although the name of the new exposition was the same - the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, the format began to change towards mechanization, science and technology. The personal pavilions of each Soviet republic resembled palaces and temples, symbolizing the friendship of the peoples of the great country that defeated fascism and is building a happy future for everyone.

VSHV Plan 1954

Since June 1956, the All-Union Industrial Exhibition began its work on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, demonstrating the successes of the Soviet industry. By the way, a curious fact: at that time, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was open to visitors only in the warm season and closed for the winter. On May 28, 1958, a resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On the unification of the All-Union industrial, agricultural and construction exhibitions into a single Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR” was adopted, and since 1959 a new name has arisen - VDNKh of the USSR. A new history began, when the regional and republican pavilions were converted into branch ones with the destruction of the former interiors and facade decoration.

In order to see dozens of pavilions of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in detail, it will take more than one day. Let's take a look at only four pavilions: the Main, Ukrainian SSR, Mechanization and Glavmyaso.

This is how the Main Pavilion of the 1939 model looked like (on a porcelain dish). Next to the building there is a stele of the Constitution, and on its top is the sculptural composition "Tractor Driver and Collective Farm Girl", which became the emblem of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition and in 1954 was transferred to the arch of the new Main Entrance. And the whole exhibition became an emblem and symbol of the new Soviet system, newspapers wrote about it, films were shot on the territory, images of pavilions were replicated on dishes and fabrics, and advanced collective farms had a natural desire to become exhibitors of this “vanity fair”.

The main pavilion of 1954 (https://pastvu.com/p/67383) was built for the second opening of the exhibition according to the project of Georgy Shchuko and is designed in the tradition of enlarged Russian classical architecture. This is the image of the entire Soviet Union, the face of the exhibition. The facade of the building is decorated with the coats of arms of sixteen Soviet republics - sixteen sisters. Yes, yes, at the time of construction there was the sixteenth republic - the Karelian-Finnish SSR, which was later disbanded, and its coat of arms on the facade of the pavilion was welded with a metal sheet.

The guests of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition were impressed not only by the size of the building, but also by its interiors. In 1954, the exposition of the main exhibition pavilion introduced visitors to the art of socialist realism, the foremost workers, Heroes of Socialist Labor were honored here, on whom they were equal, whose successes they were proud of. Four halls were dedicated to the Great October Revolution, the Stalinist Constitution, Peace and Science. On the walls are bas-reliefs and frescoes with historical scenes, along the walls are sculptures of happy Soviet people, banners of the Soviet republics. Later, in addition to works of art, the exhibits of the Main Pavilion included technical innovations and scientific achievements (for example, a model of the Lenin nuclear icebreaker). Schemes and maps in figures and facts clearly showed how the life of the people improved from year to year. Since 1963, the pavilion has been called the Central.

October Hall. 1962: https://pastvu.com/p/61226

1954: https://pastvu.com/p/270580

A giant sculptural composition by Evgeny Vuchetich "Glory to the Soviet people, the standard-bearer of the world!" was hidden from the eyes of visitors in 1967, while VDNKh was getting rid of the pathos of the Stalin years. Even earlier, with the debunking of the cult of personality, Stalin's profile disappeared from the banner in high relief. In the summer of 2014, the pavilion was renovated, the sculptural group was accidentally found and again appeared before the eyes of Muscovites. To this day, the archaeological artifact has survived with the loss of several heads of workers, with broken limbs, and now in the twilight it reminds not of the heyday of the socialist system, but of the collapse of the Stalin era. In the bins of the huge building, paintings from the early 1950s were also found, which also needed restoration, but the sculptures were not preserved. Under the vaults of the pavilion, you can see several frescoes depicting the labor of Soviet workers and collective farmers.

Outside, the guests were greeted by bronze statues of the leaders of the proletariat, Vladimir Lenin stood on the left, Joseph Stalin on the right. After Stalin's personality cult was exposed, his sculpture was dismantled and, presumably, went to be melted down, and the bronze Ilyich, in order not to break the symmetry of the architectural composition, was first inside the pavilion, in the Constitution Hall, then in 1970 (to the centenary of Lenin) was installed on a pedestal a hundred meters from the facade of the building. This is a typical monument, its copies were installed near the Timiryazev Academy and at the Kiev railway station. They say that the entrance to the bomb shelter is hidden under the slab near the pedestal. Under the Central one, in fact, there is a protective structure, which is still in working order under the supervision of the competent authorities.

"Mechanization". 1940: https://pastvu.com/p/67945

The pavilion, known to most citizens as "Cosmos", appeared in 1939. Then it was a functional building to showcase achievements in the field of mechanization and electrification of agriculture in the USSR (architects V. Andreev, I. Taranov, N. Bykova). Samples of agricultural machinery were exhibited on podiums along the entire length of the pavilion. It did not look like other pompous structures of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition and resembled either a boathouse or an aircraft hangar, or a structure above the platform of the Kiev railway station. But the size was unmistakable. Yes, it's amazing now.

1953-1954: https://pastvu.com/p/76376

Installation of the layout of the rocket "Vostok". 1967: https://pastvu.com/p/67542

Mechanization Square (Industry Square) changed its appearance several times, at first it was decorated with a monumental Stalin, dismantled after the war. In 1954, a round pond was arranged at this place, in the center of which a 25-ton model of the Vostok launch vehicle was later installed. The townspeople are accustomed to seeing the rocket in a vertical position, but there was a time when the exhibit lay horizontally on the transporter platform. The Soviet three-stage Vostok launch vehicle was developed on the basis of the R-7 rocket at the OKB-1 enterprise under the leadership of Korolev. The first successful launch took place in 1959, and on April 12, 1961, such a rocket launched a spaceship with Yuri Gagarin on board into Earth's orbit. In 1985, the rocket model was replaced with a new, identical one, and in 2010, the All-Russian Exhibition Center reconstructed it, strengthened the supporting structures, painted the rocket in historical colors, restored the inscription "Vostok" on board.

Well, the Mechanization pavilion acquired its current shape by 1954. The end of the hangar overlooking the square has acquired a facade with silhouettes of working people, metallurgists, electricians, and engineers. The future of the Soviet country was personified by a pioneer and a pioneer with models of a tractor and an airplane in their hands. And statues of machine operators were installed on the roof: a man squeezes a tractor lever, and a woman drives a combine. On the opposite side of the building, a huge hall with a glazed dome was added. Inside, a sculptural composition by Yevgeny Vuchetich “Forward, to the victory of communism!”, which has not survived to this day, appeared inside. The reconstruction of the building was carried out according to the project of architects V. Andreev, I. Taranov. The chief designer is M. Limanovsky, the dome designer is G. Gordon.

After "Mechanization", the pavilion housed the exposition "Engineering", and since 1967 - "Cosmos". The scale of the pavilion was ideally suited for the exhibition of space achievements, which every year grew with more and more new exhibits. It was one of the most interesting and spectacular pavilions in all exhibition years in terms of the content presented. Although there is still not enough lighting in it, and in winter it is cool, if not cold.

1939-1941: https://pastvu.com/p/6064

1954-1955: https://pastvu.com/p/264621

1976: https://pastvu.com/p/145350

In the 1990s, Soviet schoolchildren no longer dreamed of becoming cosmonauts; it was much more attractive to be a businessman or a racketeer. It seems that both of them took possession of Cosmos, in 1994 a car dealership settled here. The fate of the former space exposition turned out differently, some rarities returned to secret design bureaus and factories, Energia, Energomash, something was transferred to the fund of the Museum of Cosmonautics, something was stolen. It is said that space artifacts were randomly stored in the large hall of the pavilion. As the Izvestia newspaper later wrote, models of spacecraft, personal belongings of space explorers, manuscripts, samples of space rocks began to emerge at foreign auctions.

Later, the main halls were occupied by a fair of seedlings, seeds and equipment for gardening, and a portrait of Yuri Gagarin was shamefully hung with a cloth. The office space included warehouses and tenant offices, a theater, and a scientific and educational Martian attraction. For several October days, the main exhibition of the country returned to its agricultural origins, and the live exhibits of the Golden Autumn agricultural forum did not leave visitors indifferent. Until recently, living creatures were sent just to Cosmos.

After a facelift in 2014, several technical exhibitions were held in the pavilion, and a good collection of domestic cars was remembered.

"Glavmeat". 1939: https://pastvu.com/p/79500

A whole livestock town of dozens of buildings was located at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in 1939. Having examined the section “New in the Village”, the collective farmers went to pigsties and stables, where, until the mid-1990s, live exhibits were placed, presented by the best farms in the country. Well, then the VSHV visitors, who had worked up an appetite, headed towards the ponds to the Glavmyaso pavilion to taste delicacies and stock up on canned food.

The first version of the pavilion appeared at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition by 1939. Inside, there was a brisk trade in sausages, smoked meats, canned meat, and hot dishes were offered in a summer cafe on the roof. There were several more Glavmyaso stalls on the territory of the exhibition, where hot sausages, cutlets and sandwiches were sold. By 1954, during the reconstruction of the Mechanization pavilion, both the pre-war Glavmyaso and the neighboring Glavkonserv had disappeared.

The Meat Industry pavilion was built by 1954 according to the project of architects V. Lisitsyn and S. Chernobay. Even before the war, two giant bulls flaunted at the entrance to Glavmyaso, which later moved to the newly rebuilt pavilion. These sculptures have not survived to this day, but the giant bull, tamed by an athletic livestock breeder, still adorns the roof of the pavilion.

Fortunately, in the 1990s, the Meat Industry did not become a trading platform. The Hermes-Soyuz joint-stock company lodged in the pavilion, and then the offices were rented by the Bizon company, which organizes exhibition events. The central hall with a staircase and two large shopping and restaurant halls on the second floor still impress with their interiors. Even an impressive buffet and a wooden platform for solemn speeches have been preserved. In 2014, a cosmetic renovation of the facade and interior was carried out.

The intrigue remains - whether they will sell sausages here, as in the Khrushchev-Brezhnev times, or whether the pavilion will find some kind of exhibition and exposition use. In the recent history of VDNKh, no exhibitions have been held in the Meat Industry pavilion, but an exposition of air defense troops has unfolded in the neighborhood.

In August 1991, an anti-Soviet campaign began in the country, the democratic government fought against communist ideology, while not thinking about the historical value of monuments of the recent past. Then it never occurred to anyone to take care of the preservation of the cultural heritage of the USSR. The Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy adapted to survive in the new conditions: the pavilions turned into trading floors, and some became private property. The very name VDNKh was replaced by VVTs - All-Russian Exhibition Center.

One of the unrealized concepts of the late Luzhkov

When Mayor Sergei Sobyanin made a historic visit to the territory of the All-Russian Exhibition Center in March 2014, the process of returning to normal exhibition activity went at an unprecedented pace. In April, large-scale landscaping work began, in which several organizations, dozens of road equipment units, and 6,000 workers were involved. The exhibition returned to its usual name VDNKh, illegal buildings were demolished, and cosmetic repairs were made in the pavilions liberated from merchants.

Over the past two years, the main fair of the country has again become the main exhibition of the country: dozens of educational, sports, and entertainment projects have been implemented at the renovated VDNKh. It remains to be hoped that the ambitious leadership of VDNKh will work not only on modern content, but also on the restoration of architectural monuments from the VSHV times.

Original taken from

On the website of the Main Archival Administration of Moscow, a virtual walk through VDNKh of two periods has been posted.
I'll copy it here so I don't lose it.

The picture is a link to the original site.
The exhibition presents photographs from the funds of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow".

Let's walk along the old VSHV-VDNKh

Project curators:
I.E. Sizonenko, head Sector of the Department of Public and Interregional Relations of the Main Archive of Moscow
E.V. Korotkikh, director of the Scientific and Information Center of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow"
Author's team:
E.N. Sokolnikova, head Department of scientific and expositional work of the Scientific and Information Center of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow"
EAT. Gurenkova, chief specialist of the Scientific and Information Center of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow"
E.N. Chernenkova, chief specialist of the Scientific and Information Center of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow"
N.S. Laubakh, leading specialist of the Scientific and Information Center of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow"
Technical support:
O.S. Prokopenko, leading specialist of the Scientific and Information Center of the State Budgetary Institution "Central State Administration of Moscow"
A.V. Menshikov, chief specialist of the Department of organizational and analytical work and state accounting of archival documents of the Main Archive of Moscow

How simple and modest is this name -
All-Union Agricultural Exhibition!
But what a great content
but what an exciting meaning lies in the exhibition,
opening in Moscow on August 1, 1939!

The opening of the All-Russian Agricultural Exhibition (VSHV) was one of the most important events in the pre-war history of the USSR. From the first days of work, the highest achievements in the field of industry, agriculture and the cultural life of the country in the era of the first five-year plans were demonstrated here. The All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was to become a permanent exhibition of a new type, a school of mass experience.

The grandiose exhibition complex is located on the northern outskirts of the capital, on an area of ​​136 hectares, including ponds, experimental plots, and park areas. The project of the general plan of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was drawn up by the famous architect V.K. Oltorzhevsky, later the work on the creation of the exhibition was headed by the architect S.E. Chernyshev. The architectural ensemble of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition was created by architects V.A. Schuko, V. Geilfreikh, L.M. Polyakov, D.N. Chechulin, sculptors S.T. Konenkov and G.I. Motovilov; monumentalists A.A. Deineka, A.P. Bubnov, P.P. Sokolov-Skal and many other talented artists. Under the leadership of the chief architect S.E. Chernyshev, more than 2 thousand professional and folk craftsmen worked. The exhibition featured 400 sculptures, several hundred art paintings and panels. The exhibition complex has become one of the iconic places in the capital, enriching its architectural appearance.

In total, 250 structures were built on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, including pavilions of the Union republics and individual regions of the country, industry pavilions.

VSHV 1939 became not only a school of excellence, demonstrating the achievements of the national economy, but also a favorite vacation spot for Muscovites and guests of the capital. In a large old park next to the exhibition there are various attractions: a parachute tower, a Ferris wheel, a laughter room, carousels; a children's town with playgrounds was equipped. At the exhibition itself, the Green Theatre, a concert stage, a circus and two cinemas were built; cafes, a teahouse, a tea-dining room, cafes, restaurants, tobacco and confectionery tents were opened.

For the convenience of VSHV visitors (up to 100,000 people visited the exhibition every day), the routes of buses, trolleybuses and trams with the VSHV stop were thought out.

The success of the exhibition was incredible. From August 1 to October 25, 1939, over 3.5 million people visited it.

On June 26, 1941, due to the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the exhibition was closed. Most of its exhibits and the library were evacuated to Chelyabinsk. Several anti-aircraft batteries were installed on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, and the pavilions were masked with a dark cloth. During the war, not a single bomb hit the vast territory of the exhibition.

After the end of the war, the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition accepted visitors only on August 1, 1954. The exhibition area increased to 207 hectares. The architectural appearance of the exhibition has also changed significantly. For several years, under the guidance of architect A.F. Zhukov and sculptor E.V. Vuchetich, the process of reconstruction of the exposition complex was underway. The arch of the Main entrance to the exhibition was erected, crowned with a sculptural group "Tractor driver and collective farm girl", the Main pavilion was completed, new pavilions appeared (the Baltic republics, the Karelian-Finnish SSR, etc.). According to the projects of the architect-artist K.T. Topuridze, the Friendship of Peoples fountain appeared on Kolkhozov Square, the Stone Flower fountain sparkled with fabulous colors, and the Golden Ear fountain was rebuilt.

On July 4, 1956, by decision of the Central Committee of the CPSU and the Council of Ministers of the USSR, the All-Union Industrial Exhibition was opened within the framework of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition, designed to promote the achievements and prospects for the development of socialist industry, individual industries, to introduce the best practices of production innovators, innovators and inventors.

On May 28, 1958, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a resolution "On the unification of the All-Union industrial, agricultural and construction exhibitions into a single Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR." On June 16, 1959, the exhibition, already under a new name, hospitably opened the doors of its pavilions to visitors.

Thus began the history of VDNKh.

Virtual exposition “The main exhibition of the country in the photographic lens of history. 1939 – 1958” was prepared by the specialists of the Main Archive of Moscow and the State Budgetary Institution “Central State Administration of Moscow” for the 75th anniversary of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition – VDNKh. The exposition provides an opportunity to get acquainted with materials from the funds of the Central State Archive of Moscow, reflecting one of the brightest events in the history of our country and the capital - the creation of the exposition complex of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition in the period from 1939 to 1958.

The appearance of the exhibition complex, which has no analogues in the world, the mood of the era of building a new society is reflected in the works of recognized masters of Soviet photodocumentary B.V. Ignatovich, N.S. Granovsky, S.K. Ivanova-Alliluyeva, B.S. Trepetova, D.G. Sholomovich and others, as well as poems by S.I. Kirsanova, S.G. Ostrovoy, V. Demin.

All-Union Agricultural Exhibition (VSHV). Monument to I.V. Stalin on Mechanization Square. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

The main alley of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Panorama of Kolkhoz Square at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Pavilion "Leningrad and the North-East" on the area of ​​Kolhozov VSHV. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Pavilions "Siberia" and "Far East" on the area of ​​the Collective Farms VSHV.
1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Pavilion "Kazakh SSR" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Rotunda at the entrance to the pavilion "Uzbek SSR". 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Pavilion "Karelo-Finnish SSR" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1940
Photo by B. Ignatovich

Fountain "Kolos" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

VSHV visitors watching the work of the new agricultural machinery. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

VSHV visitors visiting one of the sections of the exhibition. 1939
Photo by B. Ignatovich

Pavilion "Glavmyaso" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Exposition stand in the Moscow, Tula and Ryazan regions pavilion. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

VSHV visitors visiting the vineyard at the pavilion "Viticulture and winemaking". 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Sound Recording Pavilion "Talking Letter" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

VSHV visitors watching the work of the printing machine in the pavilion "Print". 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Pavilions "Tobacco" (left) and "Tea - confectioner". 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Attractions on the territory of the VSHV. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

A tent selling soft drinks on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Buyers at the trade tent "Makhorka" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1939
Photo by B. Ignatovich

Trade pavilion on the territory of the VSHV. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Decorative design of the entrance to the Glavpivo beer bar on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. 1940 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Taxi rank at the entrance to the VSHV territory. 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Tram station "VSHV". 1939 Photo by B. Ignatovich

Sculptural group "Tractor driver and collective farm woman" above the main entrance of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. August 1954. Photo by N. Maksimov

The main entrance of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. July 1955 Photo by S. Preobrazhensky

Fountain "Friendship of Peoples" and the Main Pavilion of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. August 1954

High relief "Glory to the Standard-bearer of the world - the Soviet people!" in the Main Pavilion of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. September 1954. Photo by A. Cheprunov

All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. View of the pavilions and fountains "Stone Flower" (in the foreground) and "Friendship of Peoples". August 1954

Pavilion "RSFSR". August 1954. Photo by V. Noskov, D. Sholomovich

At the Stone Flower fountain at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. May 1958. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Kazakh SSR" (left) on the area of ​​the Collective Farms of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. June 1956. Photo by N. Granovsky

Tourists at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. June 1955
Photo by V. Noskov, N. Maksimov

Pavilion "Tajik SSR". 1950 Photo by Raskin

The guide of the pavilion "Azerbaijan SSR" I. Bagirov gives explanations to visitors at the "Cotton" stand. 1954 Photo by V. Noskov, B. Ryabin

Visitors to the pavilion "Azerbaijan SSR". On the right - the guide M. Akhmedov. August 1954. Photo by V. Noskov, B. Ryabin

Pavilion "Armenian SSR". September 1954. Photo by S. Ivanov-Alliluyev

Pavilion "Northern Caucasus". July 1954. Photo by N. Granovsky

Teahouse of the pavilion of the Uzbek SSR at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. July 1954. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Karelo-Finnish SSR". September 1954. Photo by S. Ivanov-Alliluyev

Kolkhoz Square at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. Pavilions "Moscow, Tula, Kaluga, Ryazan, Bryansk Regions" (left) and "Leningrad and North-Western Regions" (right). September 1954. Photo by N. Maksimov

Pavilion "Central Regions" (left) at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. August 1954. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Central Chernozem Regions". June 1954. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Volga region". June 1956. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Siberia". June 1956. Photo by A. Sergeev

Pavilion "Far East". July 1954. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Machine-Tool Building". June 1956. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pavilion "Floriculture". May 1958. Photo by N. Granovsky

Pond near the Poultry Pavilion. September 1954. Photo by S. Ivanov-Alliluyev

Fountain "Kolos". August 1956. Photo by A. Sergeev, B. Trepetov

Pavilion "Fishery". September 1954. Photo by B. Ryabin

Green theater at VSHV. May 1958. Photo by S. Stuzhin

Pavilion "Ice cream" on the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. August 1954. Photo by V. Noskov, D. Sholomovich

A trolleybus circling the territory of the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. August 1954. Photo by V. Noskov, D. Sholomovich

All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. June 1955. Photo by N. Granovsky