In the 1930s, tiny images of blimps, or in Russia, commonly referred to as “dirigibles,” appeared on numerous sets of Soviet postage stamps.  After the airship Graf Zeppelin flew to Moscow in 1930, blimps generated enormous enthusiasm. For a short period, blimps seemed to be the transport of the future. Lighter-than-air ships had large passenger capacity and required little fuel for long, non-stop flights. The Soviet Union embarked on a vast program of airship construction. Plans were underway to build a large fleet of blimps named after Lenin. Soviet workers and collective farmers contributed 25 million rubles for the dream of the blimp fleet to come true.  In 1932 a famous polar researcher and aircraft designer, Umberto Nobile, arrived to lead a state blimp project DIRIZHABLESTROI. The Soviet Union issued four stamps for use on mail carried on the polar flight of the Graf Zeppelin in July 1931. The stamps depict a polar bear watching the Graf Zeppelin flying over the Russian icebreaker Malygin. The disastrous explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937 brought the blimp era to an end.

Happening Now

Monumental Soviet Paintings

Saturday, April 12, 2025 - Sunday, September 21, 2025

Monumental Soviet Paintings post image
Russia’s Native Mushrooms: Botanical Watercolors by Alexander Viazmensky post image

Chemiakin’s Worlds

Saturday, March 15, 2025 - Sunday, June 22, 2025

Chemiakin’s Worlds post image

Geometric Abstraction: Selections from the Kolodzei Art Foundation Collection

Saturday, February 1, 2025 - Sunday, June 1, 2025

Geometric Abstraction: Selections from the Kolodzei Art Foundation Collection post image
Say No to War: Political Cartoons by Ukrainian and Russian Artists – The 4th Iteration post image
The Permanent Collection Gallery post image