The mansion that hosts the museum was built in late 18th century by an unknown architect. It sits on a hill. It is where Vladimir Nabokov’s mother Yelena, née Rukavishnikova, grew up. The writer lived there before the 1917 Revolution.
In the Soviet era, the mansion was used as a school and a dormitory. In 1995, the building was greatly damaged by fire. Finally, in 2011, its ownership was transferred to the Leningrad Region.
“The Leningrad Region has allocated 2.2 million rubles from its budget as part of the project to create a theater and exhibition hall and an interactive exhibition space at the mansion,” the regional government reported.
Earlier, Acting Head of the Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko visited the estate and said it is in need of renovation.
A theater and exhibition hall and an interactive exhibition space are expected to be established at the Rozhdestveno memorial estate, which includes the renovation and mounting equipment in a double-height hall and the creation of facilities for temporary exhibitions with displays, furniture and equipment, so that it can be used to host interactive workshops for kids and adults.
The mansion is located in a park with 150-year lime and oak trees lining its central alley, which leads to the Grezna River, which features slopes exposing multicolored sandstones, and pierced by springs and caves.
