When was Strastnaya Square renamed to Pushkinskaya Square?
Authorities officially renamed the open space Pushkinskaya Square in 1937. This change marked a deliberate shift away from religious history toward literary celebration under communist rule.
Questions about Pushkinskaya Square
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Where is Pushkinskaya Square located within Moscow?
The junction sits northwest of the Kremlin within central Moscow. Tverskoy Boulevard curves to the southwest while Strastnoy Boulevard extends to the northeast and meet at the center of the square along with Tverskaya Street.
Who ordered the relocation of the Alexander Pushkin monument on Pushkinskaya Square?
Joseph Stalin ordered the relocation of the sculpture in 1950. Workers moved it to the opposite side of Tverskaya Street where the old monastery had once stood.
What happened during the Glasnost Meeting on Pushkinskaya Square on the 5th of December 1965?
This event became the first spontaneous public political demonstration in the Soviet Union after the Second World War. Citizens gathered to protest censorship and demand greater freedom of speech.
When did the first McDonald's restaurant open on Pushkinskaya Square?
A McDonald's restaurant opened in January 1990 at this location. It was the first fast food chain to enter the Soviet Union market and held the title of the largest McDonald's in the world at its opening.