Merchant Rybinsk

12 points4 km3 hours

Since the 18th century Rybinsk has been an important stop on the route from the Volga region to the Baltic. Over its history it earned the title of “Russia's barge hauler capital,” the country's highest government bodies consulted the brokers of its exchange, and the town is also the birthplace of founders of Hollywood. Take a walk and discover the fascinating stories of this corner of “deep Russia”!

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

📜 Learn the city's history
🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (12)

The Nobels and the Nobel Movement in Rybinsk

Point on route “Merchant Rybinsk”

Point 11

The Nobels and the Nobel Movement

🏛️ Museum • 🌿 Public garden or park

The Nobels' Connection with Rybinsk

The famous Alfred Nobel, after whom the renowned international prize is named, spent a long time in Russia with his family. His father had a profitable business here producing machine tools and explosives; the company supplied explosives to the Russian army during the Crimean War of 1853–1856. In the 1870s Alfred's brothers Ludwig and Robert set off for Baku to found their own oil company, which shipped its oil up the Volga; one of its refineries and an oil depot were located in Rybinsk. The Nobel brothers never visited Rybinsk, but they had a tremendous influence on its development.

The Founders of Hollywood

Nicholas and Joseph Schenck are founders of modern Hollywood. At birth, though, they were named Nikolai and Iosif Sheinker. The brothers were born in Rybinsk to the family of a clerk in a Volga shipping company office. They ended up in America by the usual route of the time: in 1893 their father decided to emigrate with his family. That was common then: the country was going through hard times, and many people couldn't find work. In America the Schenck brothers saw the prospects of the entertainment industry, and they were right! A few years later they were heading the most recognizable and successful film corporation of the day. Under their leadership the studio released films such as “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” and launched the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon series. The brothers worked with Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe. A memorial plaque on the Sheinker family house is at 72 Chkalova Street; if you like, you can go and see it for yourself.

The Nobels and the Nobel Movement Museum

The museum's exhibition is devoted to the story of the Nobel brothers, Rybinsk's connection with the movies, and the town's development in the second half of the 19th century.