In February 1937 the Leningrad Palace of Pioneers opened in the Anichkov Palace, today the Saint Petersburg City Palace of Youth Creativity

Before that, after the Revolution, the city museum had existed here for a short time; it was closed in 1925, and until 1927 the same premises also housed the Higher Courses of Municipal Economy.

The Palace continued to operate even in the hard years of the Siege: clubs were open, along with a children's playground and a library, and a city olympiad of children's creative work was held, and even a New Year tree party.

In a story from the children's magazine "Koster" (Bonfire), written precisely for the tenth anniversary of the Palace's transfer to the children, there is a naïve tale of how Kirov, or Sergey Mironovich as we used to call him, dropped in on the Putilov workers and told an old turner, Kuzmich, that he was preparing a special gift: an entire palace of two hundred and fifty rooms.

- If it were up to me, I would give this palace to our Leningrad children!
- Quite right! So it is decided. You and I think alike, Kuzmich.