The exhibition demonstrated the best achievements of the industrial development in
Russia that began in the latter part of the 19th century: • an early
radio receiver (thunderstorm register) designed by
Alexander Stepanovich Popov; • the first Russian
automobile designed by Evgeniy Yakovlev and Pyotr Freze; • the world’s first
hyperboloid steel tower-shell (
Shukhov Tower) and the world’s first
steel lattice hanging and
arch-like overhead covers-shells (8 exhibition pavilions with the total area of more than 25 thousand square meters, including the unique
Shukhov Rotunda of
Vladimir Shukhov (
Russian Empire patents № 1894, 1895, 1896 dated March 12, 1899); • many other technical
inventions,
technologies and artistic achievements.
Savva Mamontov, who at the time was interested in building a railway between
Vologda and
Arkhangelsk, decided to open a Far North pavilion. He asked
Konstantin Korovin, one of the most notable Russian artists at the time, to design the pavilion. In addition, he sponsored a number of trips for Korovin and other Russian artists, so that they could familiarize themselves with the topic. Korovin designed the pavilion and in addition painted ten big canvasses for the pavilion as well, depicting various aspects of Northern and Arctic lifestyle. After the closure of the Exhibition, the canvasses were eventually placed in the
Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal in Moscow. In the 1960s, they were restored and transferred to the
Tretyakov Gallery. The suburb of
Kanavino, on the left bank of
Oka River, was chosen as the place for the exhibition. It occupied the territory of around 84 hectares within a few hundreds meters southwest of the
Nizhny Novgorod Fair. Nearly 70
buildings and
constructions were built in
Nizhny Novgorod and at the exhibition with the money allotted by the
Nicholas II Emperor of Russia. Also, more than 120
pavilions of private companies were built on the territory of the exhibition. ==Photos==