Alexander Palace, August 2004, Photos online

[PAVW]

I toured the Alexander Palace the second week of August 2004. I took multiple pictures outside and inside the sections of the palace available for tours. I've loaded these online at:
http://photobucket.com/albums/v479/PAVW

I hope you enjoy them.

Paul von Wupperfeld
Dallas, Texas

[Jane]

Thank you so much for sharing them with us!

Jane

[Merrique]

Those are some really wonderful pictures.Thank you so much for sharing them.

[Janet_W.]

For those of us who can't manage a visit at this time, your photos are a particular treat! We appreciate your thoughtfulness in sharing them with us.

[Joanna]

Stunning photographs Paul! Many many thanks!

Is Number 37 the Corridor from the entrance looking down to Alexandra's Reception Room?

Joanna

[PAVW]

I'm happy to answer any questions I can about the palace as it looked last month. Also, if anyone would like copies of the photo files, please let me know.

The palace had a small desk where staff were selling souvenir books and Nicholas II trinkets. I bought several books and will be scanning the pages for this site -- please check back and I'll add a note when the new files are posted.

Warm regards,
Paul

[PAVW]

In reply to Joanna's question, picture #37 is a view down the long corridor that ran the length of the wing containing Nicholas and Alexandra's rooms.

To orient yourself, this is just inside the wing, with the steps leading down to the entry hall behind you. On the immediate left is what was the aide d'camp's room; on the immediate right is the tsar's reception room.

Paul

[JaneEyre5381]

Thank you for sharing the pictures from your trip.  I visited St Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo (then Pushkino) when I was ten years old (1991), and only got to see the exterior of the Alexander Palace, because it had not yet been open to the public at the time.  

Thank you again.  You brought back some wonderful memories of my childhood back to life.

Dasha

[Robert_Hall]

Yes, thank you very much indeed.
They actually helped me decide on the venue for my Dec. visit to St.P. Since I will have only 3 days, AP does look like a "pass", at least this time. There is nothing to really induce a visit for me, no "atmosphere" of the former occupants.  It actually makes me wonder how much effort is actually being put into a restoration or if the focus is on creating another "gallery museum"?
I would like to see it as it was lived in, but so much also seems to have been destroyed, perhaps such an end is just beyond reach ?
Best,
Robert

[masha]

Hi PAVW - when I went to view your photo album, it was empty.  Are the photos posted somewhere else>

Masha

[BobG]

I just read in the news section of Photobucket that the web site had a problem an many albums were lost.  Hopefully Paul will repost his pictures and let us know when it is back up.

[rlbumich]

Yes, thank you very much indeed.
They actually helped me decide on the venue for my Dec. visit to St.P. Since I will have only 3 days, AP does look like a "pass", at least this time. There is nothing to really induce a visit for me, no "atmosphere" of the former occupants.  It actually makes me wonder how much effort is actually being put into a restoration or if the focus is on creating another "gallery museum"?
I would like to see it as it was lived in, but so much also seems to have been destroyed, perhaps such an end is just beyond reach ?
Best,
Robert

I totally agree with you!

[Joanna]

One of Paul's photos has a kiot (icon stand). Is this the original from Alexei's bedroom? Seeing this photo of the kiot I was surprised how diminutive it seems compared to the black and white c1917 photo where it appeared to me as immense. Were the floral designs of the divider and divan used in Alexei's rooms or were these from another room?

Also in another photo of the library I believe as it is not captioned, are the bookcases, table and chairs original? The lower part of the bookcase has a similar design as the ones in the Small Library. There is a different backing on the chairs but I am wondering if they were possibly in another room of the AP and used here to give a recreation of the library.

Joanna

[PAVW]

I have restored the photos. You can see them again at the original URL as listed above.

[Greg_King]

Concerning the Imperial corridor: I just last night watched a video that a UK production company had done a few years ago and sent to me (I lent them some pictures to use in it) on Rasputin-it's called "The Most Evil Men in History" and although generally useless and inaccurate, they did film in the AP, and so the tape includes footage of the present day corridor.  I don't know if it's available-perhaps from Amazon UK.

Greg King