The estate of Gorki was founded by Zinaida Morozova, a widow of Savva Morozov, one of the richest people in Russia, at the beginning of 20 century. In 1918 V. I. Lenin made it his dacha. Since 1922 and to his death he lived there constantly. Today on the territory of the estate there are several expositions devoted to the first years of Soviet power and Lenin in particular.
For 300 years the lands belonged to the ancient noble family of Spasitelev founded by a Byzantine priest Salvator who came to Russia with the suite of Sophia Palaiologina, the bride of Ivan (John) III.
In 19 century the estate fell into decay and often changed hands until at the beginning of 20 century it was bought by Zinaida Morozova. By that time she already married Rheinbott, a Moscow governor.
Zinaida Morozova built a beautiful main house outfitted with all the blessings of civilization that only very rich people could then afford, such as: a bathroom and a toilet, centralized steam heating and water supply systems, electricity in all house and the Ericsson telephone for communication with Moscow.
For the first time Lenin visited the estate together with his wife, Nadezhda Krupskaya, and his sister, Marie Ilyinichna, on September 25, 1918. He came there after the assassination attempt committed by Fanny Kaplan on August 30, 1918 at a Moscow factory of Mikhelson. Lenin got a serious wound but survived and was sent to Gorki for recovery a month later.
He at once liked this out-of-town house more than the others. «Comfortable living conditions were also important.
