Location: Chapaev Street (Улица Чапаева) 264
Constructed: 19th century
The Aksay Post House, also referred to as the Aksay Postal Station of the 19th Century (Russian: Аксайская почтовая станция XIX века), is a preserved historical site and museum in Aksay, Rostov Oblast, Russia, situated at Budyonnovsky Spusk Street, 3. This cultural heritage object forms a key component of the broader Aksay Military-Historical Museum complex, which encompasses multiple sites dedicated to the region's past. Originally serving as a crucial relay point for mail, travelers, and carriages on major southern Russian routes, the station has been meticulously restored and opened to the public as a museum in 1992. It provides an immersive look into imperial Russia's postal system, Cossack life, archaeological discoveries, and even ties into later events like World War II, making it a multifaceted attraction for history buffs, families, and tourists interested in the Don Cossack heritage.
Dating back to the late 18th century, the Aksay Postal Station was first documented in archival records in 1792, when postal services were established in the stanitsa (Cossack settlement) of Aksayskaya. Its location shifted over time but eventually returned to the area due to its strategic position at the confluence of the Aksay and Don Rivers, serving as a vital hub on postal tracts linking central Russia to the Caucasus and beyond. This made it a bustling waypoint for horse-drawn mail coaches, where horses were swapped, mail was sorted, and weary travelers could rest. The station's prominence grew in the 19th century, facilitating communication, trade, and movement across the vast Russian Empire. Museumification efforts began in earnest in the 1980s under the guidance of figures like V.D. Gladchenko, who organized the inaugural Pushkin Festival in 1981 to commemorate poet Alexander Pushkin's stays. A memorial plaque was installed on the Postmaster's House that year. Subsequent festivals followed in 1985 and 1987, evolving into an annual tradition. Official transfers of buildings to the museum started in 1984 with a city executive decision to relocate residents and repurpose the site by 1986. The courtyard and a wing were acquired in 1986–1987, with community-led renovations—including garbage removal, landscaping, and building maintenance—involving local residents, museum staff, and even Bulgarian construction workers. By 1988, the transformed space hosted its fourth Pushkin Festival. The Hotel building was finally transferred from a furniture factory in 1997, with restorations accelerating to open exhibitions by 1998. The first full exposition debuted in 1989, fulfilling the vision of museum founders like A.N. Skripov and Gladchenko. In the 2000s, the site gained popularity as a cultural venue beyond festivals, reflecting broader efforts to preserve Don Cossack history amid Russia's imperial expansion. During World War II, the Aksay area endured two occupations by German forces (1941–1943), with intense battles along the Don River. To honor the 3rd Battalion of the 495th Artillery Regiment's defense during civilian evacuations from Rostov-on-Don, the "Pereprava" (Crossing) monument was erected near the station's entrance in 1985. This memorial, depicting a GAZ-MM truck and anti-aircraft guns on a sloped pedestal, symbolizes wartime heroism and resilience in the region.
Designed for functionality in a rural Cossack context, the Postal
Station exemplifies modest 19th-century Russian architecture with
practical, unadorned structures built from brick and wood, featuring
low-sloped roofs and efficient layouts to support rapid coach
turnarounds. The complex recreates a typical postal yard of the era and
includes several key elements:
Postmaster's House: The central
administrative building where the station keeper oversaw operations,
including horse relays, mail handling, and traveler registrations. It
bears a memorial plaque for Pushkin's visits and has been restored to
reflect its original role.
Hotel Building: A two-story lodging
facility for overnight guests, now housing exhibitions on both floors.
It was the last structure transferred to the museum in 1997 and features
period-appropriate interiors.
Carriage Shed: A storage area for
vehicles, now displaying historical transport artifacts in an open
courtyard setting.
Small Wing: Originally a utility space (later used
for archaeology storage), it complements the yard and was among the
first areas renovated in 1987–1988.
Well and Gazebo: Essential for
watering horses and providing shaded rest for passengers, these add to
the authentic ambiance.
Courtyard: Spanning about 480 square meters,
this outdoor space was revitalized in 1988 with tree planting, weeding,
and painting, serving as a venue for events like the annual Pushkin
Festival.
The overall layout prioritizes efficiency, with
buildings arranged around a central yard for easy access, evoking the
everyday operations of a busy imperial outpost.
Thanks to its position on key travel routes, the station hosted a
remarkable roster of Russia's elite, many of whom documented their
experiences in writings that enrich its legacy. Notable figures include:
Literary icons: Alexander Pushkin (who visited in 1820 and 1829
during his Caucasus travels), Mikhail Lermontov (inspired by the region
for works like A Hero of Our Time), Alexander Griboyedov, Leo Tolstoy,
Alexei Tolstoy.
Composers: Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Mikhail Glinka (the
"father of Russian classical music").
Military and political leaders:
General Nikolai Raevsky, exiled Decembrists (from the 1825 revolt), and
members of the imperial family, including Emperors Alexander I,
Alexander II, and Nicholas I.
Others: Baron Rosen and various heirs
to the throne.
These stops underscore the station's role in
cultural exchange, with Pushkin's visits particularly celebrated through
annual festivals featuring period reenactments, costumes, carriages, and
actors to transport visitors back in time.
Since its 1992 opening, the Postal Station has evolved into an
educational hub with permanent and rotating exhibitions that blend
postal history, Cossack culture, and archaeology. Key highlights
include:
"Mail in Aksay" Exhibition: Focuses on 19th-century
Cossack postal services, with artifacts like scales, inkstands, stamps,
and documents. It extends outdoors to the courtyard and carriage shed,
showcasing a unique collection of late 19th–early 20th-century
horse-drawn vehicles, such as droshkies (light open carriages), sleighs,
phaetons (four-wheeled open carriages), britchkas (light wagons), and
other carts that illustrate transportation evolution.
"Cossack House"
Exhibition: Recreates a typical Cossack dwelling with authentic period
items, including wooden furniture, religious icons, household utensils,
dishes, textiles, tools, and labor instruments, offering insights into
daily life.
Rotating and Thematic Displays: Housed in the Hotel
building, these have included "Money of Russia" (1998), "World of Stone"
(temporary), "I Was Among the Don Cossacks" (for Pushkin's 200th
anniversary in 1999), and exhibits on Aksay's ancient history, featuring
fossils, Stone Age tools, Bronze and Iron Age pottery, Sarmatian
weapons, Polovtsian artifacts, Tatar relics, and early Rus settlements
from the Aksay River basin.
WWII-Related Elements: Displays and
artifacts tied to the Don River crossings, including maps, photographs,
and survivor accounts from the 1940s evacuations and battles.
The
museum emphasizes hands-on learning, with immersive setups suitable for
all ages, and its collections contribute to the larger Aksay
Military-Historical Museum's holdings of over 69,000 items.
As a relic of Russia's imperial postal network—analogous to ancient systems in Persia or China but scaled to the empire's expanse—the Aksay Postal Station highlights themes of connectivity, exploration, and regional identity in the Don Cossack lands. Its integration into Aksay's tourism scene, alongside nearby sites like the Customs Outpost, underground bunkers, and ancient hillforts, draws visitors to Rostov Oblast for a comprehensive historical experience. The annual Pushkin Festival, held on the first Saturday in June since 1987, features lively reenactments and cultural programs, making it a highlight. The museum operates daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM without breaks. Admission fees are not specified in available sources, so visitors should check the official website (www.aksay-museum.ru) or contact +7 (86350) 5-28-13 for current pricing, guided tours, or group bookings. The site is ranked highly among Aksay attractions (e.g., #2 on Tripadvisor with a 4.6/5 rating from limited reviews) and is accessible, though advance planning is recommended for festivals or peak seasons.