Outdoor Photo Exhibition in Moscow Describes MMK’s Vibrant History

A photo exhibition called “The Steel Heart of Russia”, dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works, has opened on Chistoprudny Boulevard in Moscow. 16 doubled-sided stands carry dozens of archival and contemporary photographs of MMK and Magnitogorsk, along with short descriptions of the most interesting and most important episodes in the history of the plant and the city.

The exhibition, prepared by MMK and the Central State Archive of the Chelyabinsk Region, provides information about the plant’s builders and metallurgists, its workers and managers, their labor and time off, their dreams and the realities in which they lived.

The construction of the Magnitogorsk Iron & Steel Works began in the spring of 1929 and was completed in record time, two years earlier than originally planned. The plant’s birthday is recognised as 1 February 1932, the day the first blast furnace produced its first cast iron.

Throughout its history, the plant has developed advanced technologies and put new, state-of-the-art facilities into operation. The large-scale modernisation of the enterprise continues to this day. MMK’s management, headed by Victor Rashnikov, has launched new production facilities that enable the plant to manufacture high-quality, high-tech products and to maintain its leading position in the global steelmaking industry.

Located next to a monument to Alexander Griboedov at the beginning of Chistoprudny Boulevard, the exhibition presents recognisable images of MMK as well as documents and photographs unfamiliar to the general public. They tell the story of visits to Magnitogorsk by government delegations, MMK’s social projects, modern production and the development of the city. The exhibition will continue until 31 July.