Lenin’s Mausoleum

Lenin’s Mausoleum (Russian: Мавзоле́й Ле́нина; Mavzoléy Lénina) also known as Lenin’s Tomb, situated in Red Square in Moscow, is the mausoleum that serves as the current resting place of Vladimir Lenin. His embalmed body has been on public display there since the year he died in 1924 (with rare exceptions in wartime). Aleksey Shchusev’s diminutive but monumental granite structure incorporates some elements from ancient mausoleums, such as the Step Pyramid and the Tomb of Cyrus the Great.

Lenin’s Mausoleum today

The Mausoleum is open every day except Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Visitors still wait in a long line to see Lenin’s body, for which entrance is free of charge. Visitors are required to show respect, and photos or video are forbidden, as are talking or smoking in the tomb. The mausoleum is still heavily guarded, although the Changing of the Guard has been moved to the Eternal Flame by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Debate continues as to what to do with Lenin’s body and there is serious talk of burying him.