Tbilisi,Georgia

Stalin’s Underground Printing House Museum

MuseumOpenEarly 20th CenturyRussian Revolutionary Period

Stalin’s Underground Printing House is a clandestine facility located in the Avlabari district of Tbilisi, Georgia. Established in 1903 by members of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, the site served as a secret base for printing revolutionary literature and propaganda. The facility was ingeniously hidden beneath a residential house, featuring a deep well that provided access to a subterranean chamber equipped with a manual printing press.

Today, the site operates as a museum dedicated to the history of early 20th-century revolutionary activities in the Caucasus. Visitors can descend into the original underground bunker to view the printing equipment and the narrow tunnel system used by the activists to evade detection by Tsarist police. The museum provides insight into the logistical challenges and risks faced by political dissidents during the period leading up to the 1905 and 1917 revolutions.

Key Facts

Materials
Brick, Wood, Iron
Civilization
Russian Empire / Georgian
Accessibility
Stairs required to enter the underground chamber
Date(s)
1903
Condition
Preserved as a museum
Original Function
Clandestine printing press
Key Figures
Joseph Stalin, Mikhail Kalinin

Establishment of the Press

1903

The printing house was established under the direction of the Caucasian Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. It was strategically located in a house in the Avlabari district, chosen for its proximity to the city center and its inconspicuous appearance.

Operational Period

1903-1906

For several years, the press operated in total secrecy, producing thousands of leaflets and newspapers in Georgian, Armenian, and Russian. The activists utilized a deep well as a disguised entrance to the underground chamber, ensuring that the printing activities remained undetected by the Tsarist authorities.

Discovery and Closure

1906

The facility was eventually discovered and raided by Tsarist police in 1906. Following the raid, the printing equipment was confiscated, and the site ceased its revolutionary operations.

Museum Transformation

Soviet Era - Present

During the Soviet period, the site was preserved as a monument to the revolutionary struggle. Following Georgia's independence, the museum has been maintained as a historical site, offering a unique perspective on the clandestine history of the Bolshevik movement in Tbilisi.

Cultural Significance

The museum serves as a tangible link to the formative years of the Bolshevik movement and the revolutionary fervor that swept through the Caucasus in the early 1900s. It highlights the role of Tbilisi as a hub for political dissent and the sophisticated methods employed by activists to bypass state censorship.

Interpretive Notes

Scholarly debates and areas of uncertainty

There is ongoing discussion among historians regarding the extent of Joseph Stalin's personal involvement in the daily operations of the press versus his broader role in the Caucasian Committee's strategic planning during this period.

Visiting Information

Entry Rules

Open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is ticketed at the entrance. No specific dress code is required.

Best Times to Visit

Weekday mornings are generally quieter, allowing for a more focused exploration of the narrow underground tunnels.

Photography

Personal photography is permitted throughout the museum, including the underground chamber.

Preservation Notes

The underground chamber is narrow and features low ceilings; visitors should exercise caution when descending the original ladder/stairway. Please refrain from touching the historical printing equipment.

Nearby POIs

11 shown

Sources & Further Reading

  1. [1]
    Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar — Simon Sebag Montefiore. Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2003)
  2. [2]
    The Caucasus: A History — James Forsyth. Cambridge University Press (2013)