Red Square's name has nothing to do with Communism or Soviet Russia. The old Russian word for "beautiful" and "red" was the same; the square was supposed to be called "Beautiful Square". Red Square has been the center of Moscow activity since the 16th century when the Tsar cleared the area and allowed vendors, shoppers, and businesses to fill the square. Today this square is surrounded by the Kremlin, the State Historical Museum, GUM Department Store, and St. Basil's Cathedral.
Many of the important events of the last three hundred years in Russia have been marked by parades or demonstrations in Red Square. Anyone who enters Red Square will have memories from TV or movie reels of this magnificent public square. Those of us who grew up during the Cold War era can remember the parades of soldiers, tanks, and other armaments past Lenin's Tomb just outside the Kremlin Wall. The World War II generation remembers Red Square as the site of a huge victory celebration at the end of the war.
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- Resurrection Gate to Red SquareResurrection Gate to Red Square
- Entering Moscow's Red Square through the Resurrection GateEntering Moscow's Red Square
- Kazan Cathedral in Moscow's Red SquareKazan Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square
- St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow's Red SquareSt. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square
- Kazan Cathedral and GUM Department Store in Red Square, MoscowKazan Cathedral and GUM Department Store in Red Square, Moscow
- Red Square Sights - St. Basil's Cathedral and the Savior Gates of the KremlinRed Square Sights - St. Basil's Cathedral and the Savior Gates of the Kremlin on Red Square
- GUM Department Store on Red Square in MoscowGUM Department Store on Red Square in Moscow
- State Historical Museum on Red Square in MoscowState Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow
- Lenin's Tomb and the Kremlin Wall on the Red Square in MoscowLenin's Tomb and the Kremlin Wall on the Red Square in Moscow
- Inside GUM Department Store on Red Square in MoscowInside GUM Department Store on Red Square in Moscow
- GUM Department Store on Red Square in MoscowGUM Department Store on Red Square in Moscow
- Saint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in MoscowSaint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow
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