Lenin Street On the card -postal stationery- is pictured Lenin Street. Original print size of this image: 14,969 x 10,879 cm (is something more as the postal item) The oldest name of this main street of Riga was Smilšu (sand)way. In 1812 the Alexander-arch was build on the street, a triumph arch in honour of the victory of Alexander I over Napoleon. So the street was called around 1818 Alexanderstreet and in 1861 'Great Alexanderstreet'. In the guide of Neumann -from 1908 (see literature below)- you can read that the tsar by this 'Denkmal zu Ehren des beliebten Monarchen' on 28 august 1818 held his entry to Riga after his return from Paris. According this guide the building hindered the traffic -already then- and the Alexandergate was replaced to the end of the Alexanderstreet on the city-border.

In 1936 the triumphal arch is replaced to the park Viestura verplaatst (north of the Elizabethstreet). This park was the first public city-park, in 1721 on order of Peter the Great constructed as 'Emperors garden'.
In 1870 a part of the Alexanderstreet get the name Alexander Boulevard , now a part of the Brivīdas Boulevard.
In 1923 the name Brivības-street, Freedom Street, is introduced.
During the German occupation in World War II the name became Adolf Hitlerstreet (1942 tot 1944) and the Brivīdas Boulevard became of course Aldolf Hitler Boulevard.

In 1950 Brivīdasstreet, Brivīdasboulevard and alley, Kalku en Svertuvesstreet were united to the Leninstreet.

On the backside of this card we see the imprinted stamp: postal stationery. Also is indicated 'Riga Lenin iela (Lenin street

Postal stationery, issued under the title 'Leninstreet by night', 27-2-1964 (27/II-64 on the backside).

The special postmark, resized 50 %, has the -translated- text: "20-e anniversary of the liberation of Riga from the fascist... 13 okt 1944"

Original print size of this image: 16,027 x 11,388 cm (is something more as the postal item)

On the detailed map we see a part of Lenin-street. We see the freedom-monument and the statue of Lenin placed in this street: Lenin with his face to the east, and the Freedom monument with face to the west.

In the key of the map concerning the memorials is started with the statue of Lenin: "1. I.V. Lenin, 1950 Sculptors V. Ingal, V. Bogokybov, architect E. Shtalberg. Crossing Leninstr. en Kirovstr. (detail-map)" The Kirovstreet is now the Elizabetes iela.

Alongside the picture of the statue of Lenin from the travelguide of M. Debrer. It was erected to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Soviet Latvia and in this guide (1982) we read about this statue: "On various holidays the workers of the city gather here, and often one can see newlyweds getting out of their gaily decorated cars to lay flowers at the foot of the monument. On 19 May, the anniversary of the foundation of the Young Pioneer organisation, the pioneers mount a guard of honour here. But the monument looks its most festive each 1 September, when the entire square around it is covered with a carpet of flowers, brought by children going to school this day for the first time." Now this is impossible: the statue is 27 August 1991 removed and disapeared in a storage yard of the Riga Parks and Gardens Department.

The Freedom-monument in Lenin-street, is now on the same place, but in Brivīdas iela or Freedom-street.

FDC, 28-9-2000, and the postage stamp with the Freedom-monument in Riga. The monument you can also find on a postage stamp from 1939 (Mi. 274). Original print size of this image: 16,535 x 11,625 cm (is something more as the postal item) The monument is made by Karlis Zale (1888-1942), a well-known Latvian artist. The munument is 42 meter high and on the top is placed the Freedom-statue, a woman with three stars, symbolising the three parts of Latvia: Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale. In 1935 is monument is unveiled in the Brivīdas iela. In tsaristic times on this place was placed the equestrian statue of Peter the Great.

The well-known hotel 'Latvia' in Leninstreet on a postal stationery, issued 2-8-1977 (2/VIII-77). Original print size of this image: 16,637 x 11,625 cm (is something more as the postal item)

The same hotel on a postal stationery, issued 29-1-1987. Original print size of this image: 16,518 x 11,819 cm (is something more as the postal item) Resized 50%:

Riga: Other places