Red Square now and before

The old photo shows Red Square of 1870s. It has changed a lot since that time.
To the left we see a two-storey building with a corner turret.  Constructed in the late 17th century it used to be the Central Pharmacy in Moscow. Later in 1755 the first University in Russia (Moscow State Univecity) was opened here. In the l9th century after the University was transferred to a different place it accommodated some government offices.
Nearby are the Resurrection gates,  main entrance to Red Square (built in 1680s) and the Cathedral of Kazan (built in 1620s). To the right of the church we see a house with columns. This is the Upper Trading Rows. It was the first mall on Red Square, the center of wholesale and retail trade in Moscow. In the future it would be rebuilt to accommodate GUM.

In the center of the new photo we see an impressive red-brick building. This is the History museum. It was built in 1874 - 1881. The original Resurrection gates and Kasan cathedral were destroyed in the Soviet times. Both were rebuilt in 1990s. To the right is  the famous GUM. The building we see today was constructed between 1890 and 1893 by Alexander Pomerantsev. In the 19th century it was called the Upper Trading Rows and only in the Soviet times it got its present name (GUM means State Department Store).
You'll learn more about the history of Red Square during your  Moscow tours.

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