Alexander Palace restoration will begin next year - 2009

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Comment and question:  We learn bits and pieces via pictures and the kindness of some members' postings who have been to the Alexander Palace from time to time recently, but it's  been some time apparently since Bob Atchison last visited.   What are Bob's plans to return and personally "inspect" the AP's present situation/condition, being essentially "his" life project?  That could provide us all with a REALLY comprehensive, on-the-spot report!   (Likewise, has Bob ever considered forming and leading a tour there, as well as to other related sites, of course? With his fund of knowledge, what better guide would one need !?!)     AP

[Helen]

I refer to the railings and posts at the edge of the roof.  These posts  create hundreds of vulnerable places where water can collect and wreak havoc with the edge drainage of the roof.

  Some sections of the railings look as if they have been painted recently, but it's hard to tell from the ground whether the paintwork is 'arbitrary' or connected to repairs carried out to specific sections of the roof.

[Douglas]

Yes, it is hard to tell about the upper railing on the roof.  I did read that much of the railing on the family wing had been replaced, repainted and repaired when they put that blue covering on left side wing.  I understand that the old wood railings have been replaced with a plastic resin compound.

The original building is really a brick structure that is covered with plaster.  And herein lies it's problems...especially in the harsh climate of those latitudes.  If a building of that fabric is left unrepaired for decades....big problems are guaranteed. 

Bottom line:  the entire palace is in need of millions of dollars in repairs.   As we all know,  the current condition of the palace is in direct relation to the anti Romanov sentiment that still exists in Russia, ie., Nicholas II.

[Robert_Hall]

I do not know, Douglas.  I find most Russians [that I have met] are simply indifferent to NII.  Sorry, perhaps that he and his family were shot, but not really interested. When I was at the AP, admittedly off-season,  the only other visitors were  tourists form out of the country. The only Russians being the babushkas.  I get the impression that they find our interest in  him  amusing or curious at best and are happy to take our money. Which I do not mind, really.  The push for restoration  seems to be for as it was  when it was built,  and the era of Alexander I. He is still regarded highly by Russians and would probably draw more natives to the site.
 As for construction, I understand what you are saying. The palace of Oraniembaum is need of much repair.  Huge sections are  exposed from the plaster falling of and damaged roofs.  This is not from war damage, simply neglect.  What is interesting, though, is one can see house these places were actually constructed. Happily, that place is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

[vladm]

Robert, I think you are mistaking about Russian folks interest in NII. For my understanding, problem in another direction: not much Russian people, can make relation between NII and AP, mainly because of the Soviet education - all of them thinking NII lived in Winter Palace (primary residence), and has been evicted during 1917 February Revolution from his primary residence.
In most of the Russian People mind, Alexander Palace, sort of dacha, and after February 1917 prison for his family, significance sort of not exceeding Epatiev House (if some one know about it at all). Unfortunately information what we have here on this site, only few folks in Russia understand, and care about.
I am not sure, how many people can agree with me, but modern Russian person in Russia, care mostly about money and possession/collection of goods. Life for education, moving science and world knowledge forward, history preservation becoming extinct quality for Russian folks. Careless mindset can be seen everywhere, start from condition of Alexander Palace, going to quality of the roads (from road engineering perspective), pollution level, bribery on all official levels, way how people drive, care about job and each other etc.
I am not trying to dramatize situation, but I am looking in to that from realistic point of view. I know my point of view, often create a lot of turmoil here, but if I can't speak truth - who can?
I have from last year close to 1000 pictures of Tsarskoye Selo parks and palaces, Alexander Palace on most of them looking not far from 1944 photographs, and what scares me the most: folks who care about it - here in this forum, Pushkin citizens and Russian government officials accepting situation as is. 

[Douglas]

Hello Vlad:

If the Russian people think that N II lived at the Winter Palace then they are very badly educated.  Maybe their education under the Soviets was more like propaganda than real education.  It is like saying that the US President lives at Camp David.

If the beaurocrats who control the money for palace upkeep in Russia 'wanted' to restore the AP they could do it immediately.  It's all about how they want to spend money.

Vlad, could you find out what the blue material is that they used to cover the roof of the Right Wing of the AP?  I have speculated about it in posts but I would really like to know the facts. 

[Vladimir_V.]

I am not sure, how many people can agree with me, but modern Russian person in Russia, care mostly about money and possession/collection of goods. Life for education, moving science and world knowledge forward, history preservation becoming extinct quality for Russian folks. Careless mindset can be seen everywhere, start from condition of Alexander Palace, going to quality of the roads (from road engineering perspective), pollution level, bribery on all official levels, way how people drive, care about job and each other etc.

lol You are 98.
: )))))

[vladm]

Vladimir, stress becoming, luckily process is not finished, and in my case in Russia

Douglas, I don't think analogy about US President is correct, I think would be better - Marie Antoinette in Louvre vs Versailles

Also, I would be happy find out details about blue material. I would speculate - its plastic (polyethylene) coating over aluminum, but we will see.

[Robert_Hall]

I would not disagree with you, Vladm. I was  just expressing what my friends in Russia told me.   And they spared me not from hearing the corruption and Soviet education. Getting  something done there is downright Byzantine, I would think.
 As for N&A at the Winter Palace/Hermitage. They did live there for a while.  But long and they maintained their apartments there.  After the move to the AP,  Alexandra avoided  returning like the plague. Nicholas, of course had to return now and then because of his position and duties, especially  once the war started.
  Their rooms now, I believe are galleries for 19th & early 20th century furniture. Not much of a trace of N&A is left. Unfortunately, they were closed on each of my visits for one reason or another.

[vladm]

Robert, my example with Marie Antoinette not to draw complete analogy with Nicholas and Alexandra, but to show status of two palaces in people mind from relative time factor.
As for your friends in Russia, they are partially right, but we have to remember, Russian Orthodox church have folks marching every year from St. Petersburg to Yekaterinburg to commemorate murder of Nicholas II and his family, some of them religious fanatics, but quite few very sincere in there aspiration.

[Robert_Hall]

I was not the one who mentioned N&A living at the WP, Vladm. Douglas did. I was just clarifying. I agree with your comparison  to Louis & MA. In her case, after the humiliation of the Diamond Necklace affaire, she was loathe to return to Paris. Even at Versailles, she much preferred her Trianon and h Hameau over the palace itself.

[Sian_Turner]

Judging from the huge number of people at the Cathedral on the Blood in Ekaterinburg on 16 and 17th July I would say that interest in the family is large and growing.  Ganina Yama was similarly crowded on both days.  Mostly, it has to be said, women but some men and lots of nationalists.  State TV carried the ceremony at the Cathedral on the night of 16/17th July and the news was full of the "Tsar days".  However, what people are being told is not necessarily what we understand about NII and the family - some of it is downright wrong!  There appears to be a very  Russian attitude which is that the soviet times were so bad that what went before must have been wonderful and that NII was a wonderful tsar and that life was great - hmmm make of that what you will but I'm afraid my serious western cynical gene clicked into action.

[Robert_Hall]

That be true amongst a certain set,  religious and romantics.  But then, Lenin and Stalin have their admirers as well.
 I think it interesting that the people who spend millions on building new churches spend nothing to restore the AP.

[sckkr]

Maybe if we are to donate we should give materials and raise the workforce ourselves. I would,nt mind working on such a project.

[Douglas]

Yes, Robert, they have no qualms about money spent on churches.  That is practically PC to them.

But if they spend money on the AP then that equates that they 'approve' of N & A and their lifestyle. 

The whole subject of N & A seems to be all mixed up the mind of the average Russian.   If you ask a taxi to go to the AP, the driver says in an angry tone, "Why do you want to go there?".

If Putin would go to the AP and kiss the door then maybe things would happen.     Russians  like to follow the leader.  [I don't mean that as a criticism.]