Scene near the Smolny Institute in St Petersburg, Russia. The Institute for Noble Maidens was founded in 1764 for the education of upper class girls. It continued until 1917, when Lenin took the building over as his headquarters. Soon after this it became the Communist city hall. This postcard shows a special event, with horses, riders in historical costume, and the noble maidens themselves in horse-drawn carriages. The Smolny Institute was named after the nearby Smolny Convent -- this is the building with onion domes that can be seen in the background.