Kostroma in postcards and photographs

The city of Kostroma is the administrative center of Kostroma Region and a major port on the Volga River. It was founded in 1152 (the dating was proposed by historian V. N. Tatishchev in the 18th century). First mention in chronicles dates back to 1213.

Kostroma has a special place in the national history. The history of Godunov and Romanov families is related to this city. It was in Kostroma in 1613 when Mikhail Romanov, the first tsar of the Romanov dynasty, was summoned to ascend the throne.

The collection includes about 150 postcards and photos of the 20th – early 21st centuries. They depict the various attractions of Kostroma, including the Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery, monuments of wooden architecture, city streets and squares, monuments. The documents show the way the city was changing over the century, the lost temples and monuments, which remained unfinished. Photographs taken by an outstanding photographer S. M. Prokudin-Gorsky in early 20th century, depict the relics of Godunovs and Romanovs, kept in the sacristy of the Ipatiev Monastery.

Materials of the collection are grouped by thematic sections, such as "Monasteries and Cathedrals", "Civil Architecture", "Monuments," "Streets, Squares, Parks." Every attraction is provided with a brief historical background. The collection also has a general section, which includes panoramic views of the city and sets of postcards.

Access to the entire array is provided through the electronic reading room, a number of documents is freely available on the library’s website.

Specialists developing the collection used the materials from the Library of Congress, Russian State Historical Archive, Tretyakov Gallery, private collections.

To compile historical annotations they used Internet resources on the Kostroma Region.