An admirer of everything German, Peter the Great originally named the city, Sankt-Peterburg. On 1 September 1914, after the outbreak of World War I, the Imperial government renamed the city Petrograd, meaning "Peter's city", in order to expunge the German name Sankt and Burg. On 26 January 1924 it was renamed to Leningrad, meaning "Lenin's City". On 6 September 1991, the original name, Sankt-Peterburg, was returned.
Today, in English the city is known as "Saint Petersburg". Local residents often refer to the city by its shortened nickname, Piter.
These fascinating snapshots were taken by Michael Neubert that documented everyday life of Leningrad in the mid-1970s.
Everyday life of Leningrad in the mid-1970s |
Today, in English the city is known as "Saint Petersburg". Local residents often refer to the city by its shortened nickname, Piter.
These fascinating snapshots were taken by Michael Neubert that documented everyday life of Leningrad in the mid-1970s.
“My father was the Consul General in Leningrad from the summer of 1974 through the summer of 1977. I visited the Soviet Union for the first time in December 1974. I then spend the summer of 1975 in Leningrad and returned again in December 1975 for about a month. I spent a full year in Leningrad from the summer of 1976 through June of 1977.”
Behind the Peter and Paul Fortress, Leningrad, 1976 |
Consul General's Residence, Leningrad, circa 1976 |
Dom Knigi on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, 1976 |
First day of school, Grodnenskii pereulok, down the street from the Residence, Leningrad, 1976 |
First day of school, Grodnenskii pereulok, down the street from the Residence, Leningrad, 1976 |
First day of school, Grodnenskii pereulok, down the street from the Residence, Leningrad, 1976 |
Kiosk in Leningrad, 1976 |
6 Near Metro Station 'Vladimirskaya', Leningrad 1976 |
Near Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, 1976 |
Nevskiy Prospekt street scene, Leningrad, 1976 |
Nevskiy Prospekt street scene, Leningrad, 1976 |
On Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, circa 1976 |
Soviet fire engine, Leningrad, 1976 |
Ulitsa Vosstaniya, Leningrad, 1976 |
Window, near Grodnenskii pereulok, Leningrad, 1976 |
Apartment with large dog, Leningrad, 1977 |
Around time of May Day, Leningrad, 1977 |
Beer kiosk, Ulitsa Vosstaniya, Leningrad, 1977 |
California lemons in Leningrad near Liteynyy Prospekt, all sold out by this time, 1977 |
China commission store, Leningrad, 1977 |
Clearing snow and ice, Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Construction women workers on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, 1977 |
Dom Knigi, 'House of Books', Leningrad, 1977 |
Field of Mars, Leninskii subotnik, Leningrad, April 1977 |
Field of Mars, Leninskii subotnik, Leningrad, April 1977 |
Fruit stand, near Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, 1977 |
Gostinyy dvor, Leningrad, 1977 |
Kazan Cathedral, Leningrad, 1977 |
Kirov Region of Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Kirov Region of Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Leningrad Field of Mars, April 1977 |
Leningrad Field of Mars, April 1977 |
Leningrad Field of Mars, April 1977 |
Leningrad hipsters near the Evropeiskaia hotel on Vasilievsky ostrov, 1977 |
Leningrad street scene, Winter 1977 |
Leningrad street scenes, May 1st, 1977 |
Leningrad, May 1st, 1977 |
Leningrad, May 1st, 1977 |
Ligovskiy Prospekt, Leningrad, 1977 |
Liteynyy Prospekt, Leningrad, 1977 |
Metro Station Vladimirskaya, Leningrad, 1977 |
Near Ploshchad Vosstaniya, Leningrad, 1977 |
Nevsky Prospekt, Anichkov Bridge, Leningrad, 1977 |
Night on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Night on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Night on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Painting on the Palace Bridge, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Passazh on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, 1977 |
Ploshchad' Mira, Leningrad, 1977 |
Ploshchad' Mira, Leningrad, 1977 |
Soiuzpechat kiosk, Leningrad, 1977 |
Soviet telephone booth, Leningrad, 1977 |
'Sport' store, Leningrad, 1977 |
St Isaac's Cathedral, Leningrad, May 1st, 1977 |
Stores on Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, Winter 1977 |
Street scene, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Sweeping the street, Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, 1977 |
U.S. Consulate General, Leningrad, Spring 1977 |
Ulitsa Radishcheva, Leningrad, 1977 |
Universam Vasilievsky ostrov, Leningrad, 1977 |
Gatchina, Leningrad, circa mid-1970s |
Kolkhoznyi rynok near Ploshchad' Mira, Leningrad, circa mid-1970s |
Nevsky Prospekt, Leningrad, circa mid-1970s |
Plane in empty lot, Leningrad, circa mid-1970s |
St Isaac's Cathedral visible in distance, Leningrad, circa mid-1970s |
Taxi in Leningrad, circa mid-1970s |