Lenin Monument

Monument to Bolshevik commander Lenin, created by architect Vytautas Edmundas Čekanauskas and sculptor Gediminas Jokūbonis, was built in Klaipėda in 1976, in current Atgimimo Square. It replaced the old one, which stood at the railway station and pointed with hand to S. Nėries street. In 1976 this Square was given the name of Lenin, whereas Lenin statue became the axis of its center. At that time the Square became the main place of ideological Klaipėda events.
Lenin statue‘s story is interesting for the reason that in the USSR contest after having recognised the project of G. Jokūbonis as the best project, it had to be built in Kremlin. However, when opening the envelope with the number, it turned out that the author – Lithuanian, the project was rejected, the sculpture ended up in the suburbs of Moscow, and its copy – in Klaipėda.
When in 1990 deputies of Vilnius and Klaipėda cities adopted a resolution to remove Soviet monuments from the squares, they were begun to protect by Soviet army armadillos, and only in 1991, when Moscow putsch collapsed, monuments to Lenin disappeared from Klaipėda and Vilnius cities and landed up in Grūto park.
In urban centers empty and comfortless spaces remained. Neither Lukiškių Square in Vilnius nor Atgimimo Square in Klaipėda are attractive places for inhabitants.