ST. PETERSBURG RUSSIA'S "WINDOW ON EUROPE" BY AWAKE! WRITER IN RUSSIA

The Making of a Capital

Unlike many capital cities, St. Petersburg was from the outset planned and built to be an impressive capital. Despite its locations in the far north-the latitude is that of present-day Anchorage, Alaska-Peter forged ahead with construction. Wood was brought in from the area of Lake Ladoga and from Novgorod.  One way that Peter obtained stones for building was by imposing quota. Any Russian bringing goods into St.Petersburg had to bring a certain  number of stones as well. Also, Peter banned the construction of stone houses, first in  Moscow and then in the rest of his empire. As a result, unemployed Masons  turned up in St. Petersburg.

Construction of the city proceeded at what The Great Soviet Encyclopedia calls "an exceptional pace for that time."  Drainage canals, foundation piles, streets, buildings, churches, hospitals, and government offices soon appeared. In the  year of the city's founding, construction started on a shipyard, known as the Admiralty, which in time became the headquarters of the Russian fleet. 

By 1710 construction began on the Summer Palace, a summer home for the czars.  In 1712, Russia's capital with its many governmental offices was moved from Moscow to St.Petersburg.  The city's first stone palace, still preserved, was finished in 1714. It was built for the city's first governor, Aleksandr Menshikov.  That same year, work also began  on the Peter-Paul Cathedral inside the fortress of the same name. It's towering steeple is a city landmark.  The Winter Palace on the Neva River was also built, but in 1721 it was torn down and replaced by a stone structure. Later the present  Winter Palace had become the city's center and home to the famous Hermitage, the State museum.

Next time: Conclusion of  The Making of a Capital

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