"The Handshake of Abraham Lincoln and Alexander II": a sculpture installed in the park before the Burganov House Museum on Sivtsev Vrazhek

Although this meeting never took place in reality, many note the similarity between these two rulers, and the former US Congressman James Symington called them "friends who were never destined to meet, but who were kindred spirits."

The monument was created in 2011 and first shown at the exhibition "Tsar and President: Alexander II and Abraham Lincoln. The Liberator and the Emancipator". Serfdom in Russia and slavery in the United States were abolished almost simultaneously: in 1862 with us and in 1865 with them. Moreover, Alexander II spoke of the need to abolish serfdom in one of his first speeches from the throne and, already in the third year after his accession, in 1857, issued a rescript instructing that preparations begin for the reform to emancipate the serfs. Lincoln issued a preliminary proclamation on the confiscation of slaves in the rebel states and their liberation in the second year of his presidency, in 1862.

Lincoln and Alexander II were not merely close in the spirit of the reforms they carried out, but also corresponded with one another. Thus Lincoln wrote to the Russian Emperor:

"My dear friend, in these difficult times of struggle for unity and freedom, I wish to express to you my deep gratitude and respect for your bold efforts to liberate the peasants in Russia. Your resolve and determination in carrying out such historic reforms set a powerful example to the whole freedom-loving human family. Your magnanimity and your striving for justice inspire all of us to fight for freedom and equality. With the most sincere wishes and friendly respect, Abraham Lincoln."

Alexander II, for his part, expressed solidarity with the grave trials that Lincoln was facing during the American Civil War, and supported the North, including by sending naval squadrons to American ports, regretting the outbreak of a Civil War that was ruining all the progress the States had made in 80 years of independence.

In essence, this was a historical period in which relations between the USA and Russia were even better than during the Second World War.