Hi! Today I invite you to continue our journey through the architectural landmarks of Moscow. After my last trip to the capital, where I published a short story about the famous Stalinist high-rise building, which houses the Hilton Moscow Leningradskaya Hotel, today I want to introduce you to another interesting architectural monument of the early Soviet period — the building of the North River Terminal, which has become one of the attractions for tourists and residents of Moscow.
How to Get There by Metro
The address of the complex is Leningradskoye Shosse, 51. Nearby is the exit from the Rechnoy Vokzal metro station. On the way from the metro, guests can take a walk through a small well-kept park with fountains.
I myself got to the terminal in a rather unusual way: after a walk through the North Tushino Park, located on the other side of the canal, I boarded a riverboat and in a few minutes sailed to the station building. The cost of such a trip in the summer of 2022 was 46 rubles. You can pay for this small journey using the "Troyka" transport card.
A Bit of History
The North River Terminal in Moscow (formerly the Khimki River Station) belongs to the complex of hydraulic structures of the Moscow Canal. The realization of the grandiose plan for the construction of a 128-kilometer canal was carried out from 1932 to 1937. The terminal building is the largest structure erected along the entire length of the waterway.
The project of the rich and majestic station building was created by the architect A. M. Rukhlyadev. Some sources mention another master, V. F. Krinsky, as a co-author, but I read that despite the frequent joint work of these architects, Krinsky's signature was not found on any drawing of the river station.
I deliberately started my story with a mention of the Stalinist high-rises. The North River Terminal building evokes similar associations: its strict classical architecture called on the observer to reflect once again on the grandeur and invincibility of the ideas of the Soviet state. The dominant feature of the station is a 27-meter tower with clocks and a star on the spire. Interestingly, the spire can be raised and lowered, although as far as I know, this mechanism was used only three times: in the year of the canal's opening, during the victory in the Great Patriotic War, and on the anniversary of the 850th anniversary of Moscow.
In addition to the premises necessary for its functioning, the station building housed a library, a hairdresser, a post office, and a mother and child room. There was also one unusual space here, called Joseph Stalin's cabinet, or the special-purpose room. In reality, it was a waiting room for high-ranking individuals.
Over time, the station complex fell into disrepair, but today the building of the North River Terminal has again become a center of attraction for many residents and guests of the city. In 2018–2020, comprehensive restoration work was carried out here. Several exhibition halls have been opened in the station building. In front of its western facade, you can find a layout of the Moscow Canal buildings.
Finally, I'll share with you one more place where you can see reduced copies of famous Moscow buildings — the Moscow Layout at VDNKh. This huge exposition is an almost exact copy of a large area in the center of the capital.
Have a nice trip!
