The Presidential Library spotlighted secrets and mysteries of Utkina Dacha estate

May 31, 2022 the Presidential Library hosted a video lecture entitled The History of Utkina Dacha as part of the cultural and educational project Knowledge of Russia. The event marked the 319th anniversary of the foundation of St. Petersburg.

Utkina Dacha is an architectural monument of federal significance. This is a former estate which today houses a branch of the State Museum of Urban Sculpture. The ensemble is located on the right bank of the Neva at the confluence of the Okkervil and Okhta Rivers.

Utkina Dacha dates its history back to 1790s, when a real noble estate grew up on the site of a wooden country house. Its owner Mark Poltoratsky previously received this piece of land for special merits in the field of culture: he served as the director of the Singing Court Chapel and went down in history as the first Russian singer to perform in an Italian opera.

In 1828 the estate passed to a new owner - Princess Zinaida Shakhovskaya. The name attached to this place is associated with the name of her second husband, Vasily Utkin, Justice of the Peace. The princess bequeathed the estate to the Imperial philanthropic society. At various times, the Okhta Mariinsky almshouse and the orphanage of the Imperial Humanitarian Society were located here, after the revolution - the Commissariat of Health, residential communal apartments, industrial premises, a hostel. Then the building has been abandoned for many years.  

In 2012 Utkina Dacha was handed over to the State Museum of Urban Sculpture in a ruined state. A manor house, an example of classical architecture of the late 18th century, and an office building have been preserved on its territory. Restoration work is underway now. In the future scientific, educational and cultural events will be held at the renovated Utkina Dacha as well as museum exhibitions and a recreation area.

Vera Manurtdinova, head of the sector for monitoring the state of monuments of the State Museum of Urban Sculpture, helped video lecture participants to make a journey through historical eras, learn about the owners and architectural features of the estate complex. She will tell about the secrets and mysteries associated with this place.

The information partner of the event is the social network VKontakte.

The meeting is available on the Presidential Library’s official group VKontakte.