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The Postmaster's House Museum happened to
become the first in Russia museum of a book character - of
the warden of a post road station who was described by Aleksandr
Pushkin in one of his stories. Pushkin is probably the most
loved, cited and published poet in Russia. His beautiful crystal
verses, both simple and meaningful (unfortunately, losing
much in translation) are first learnt in early childhood as
short poems and fairy tales. Later they are followed by his
lyric and philosophic poetry and prose. Being praised by every
regime after his death, Pushkin grew into a symbolic and even
cult figure for a Russian speaking person. No surprise that
monuments to Pushkin or streets of his name can be found in
many Russian cities. The Postmaster's House Museum adds its
special tribute to Aleksandr Pushkin national worship and,
also, displays Russian rural culture interiors and artifacts
and provides a historical overview of postal service in Russia
in the 19th century.
The museum collection includes several exhibits:
"Clean Section for Travellers", "Coachmen Room",
"Local Post Office in the Second Half of the 19th Century"
and "The Open Storage of the Museum Funds" display.
Supported by the Aleksandr Popov Central
Museum of Communications, the Station Keeper Museum was founded
on October 15, 1972. It is located in the still preserved
former building of the Vyra post road station where travellers
of the 18-19th centuries changed horses for their coaches.
The old roadpost here marks 'the 69th verst"(72 km) of
the highway heading from St. Petersburg to Pskov. A rural
roadside chapel is reconstructed next to the station entrance
(architect A. Semochkin, 1980s) housing the religious processions
on church holidays of Kozma and Damian celebrated yearly on
July 14 and November 14.
Another event attracting many guests worldwide
including Pushkin's descendants - Aleksandr Pushkin's birthday
- is traditionally celebrated every June both in the village
of Vyra as Pushkin Holiday and in the town of Gatchina nearby
as the movie festival "Literature and cinema".
The museum is a center of youth education
arranging 5-year training cycles of "The Young Postmaster
School" where kids study history of mail service in Russia
in practical seminars and exciting games.
Donations and contributions substantially
support the museum activities.
A branch of the museum - The House of Aleksandr Pushkin's
Nanny- was opened in a nearby village of Kobrino in 1974.
It occupies the only wooden construction that has survived
in the village since the 18th century, where a talented surf
peasant woman - Arina Rodionovna- lived before coming to her
masters' house in Moscow to nurse young Pushkin and tell him
fascinating stories that later transformed into his fairy
tales.
Traditional interior of a peasant's house
of the late 18th-early 19th centuries is presented here.
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