Philatelic Photograph, Military Ships: Cruiser Aurora - St. Petersburg, Russia

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Cruiser Aurora

St. Petersburg, Russia

Topics: Philatelic Photograph, Military Ships

GPS: N59° 57.325; E030° 20.270

Quick Description: 

The Cruiser Aurora is moored at the Petrovskaya Quay in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Long Description:

The October Revolution in Russia began with a signal shot from the gun on the forecastle of the Aurora. 

During the First World War the Aurora was operating in Baltic Sea.  At the end of 1916, the ship was moved to present day St. Petersburg for repairs.  The crew of the ship supported the Bolsheviks as the Russian Revolution was brewing.  On October 25, 1917, the Aurora refused to carry out an order to put to sea. Later that day, at 9.45 p.m, a blank shot was fired from her forecastle gun which signaled the start of the assault on the Winter Palace.

The October Revolution successfully overthrew the Russian Provisional Government and power was transferred to the Bolsheviks. They then established the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and, in 1922,  the Soviet Union. 

In 1956, the Aurora was converted into a museum. It is one of the top attractions in St. Petersburg and has been visited by almost 30 million people.

The stamp was issued by Russia on October 26, 1977 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the October Revolution.