Tsar Peter the Great founds the city of Saint Petersburg.

In Saint Petersburg, Bartolomeo Rastrelli presents the newly-built Catherine Palace to Empress Elizabeth and her courtiers.

Saint Isaac's Cathedral is founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Fire in the Winter Palace of Saint Petersburg occurred.

The Russian Geographical Society is founded in Saint Petersburg.

The revolutionary Vera Zasulich shoots at Fyodor Trepov, the Governor of Saint Petersburg.

In Saint Petersburg, Russian scientist Alexander Stepanovich Popov demonstrates to the Russian Physical and Chemical Society his invention, the Popov lightning detector — a primitive radio receiver. In some parts of the former Soviet Union the anniversary of this day is celebrated as Radio Day.

''Pravda,'' the "voice" of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, begins publication in Saint Petersburg.

First demonstrations in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The beginning of the February Revolution.

Moscow becomes the capital of Russia again after Saint Petersburg held this status for 215 years.

Petrograd, formerly Saint Petersburg, Russia, is renamed ''Leningrad''.

In the Soviet Union, Politburo member Sergei Kirov is shot dead by Leonid Nikolayev at the Communist Party headquarters in Leningrad.

World War II: German troops reach Leningrad, leading to the siege of Leningrad.

World War II: Siege of Leningrad begins. German forces begin a siege against the Soviet Union's second-largest city, Leningrad.

Soviet forces liberate Leningrad, effectively ending a three year Nazi siege, known as the Siege of Leningrad.

The name ''Saint Petersburg'' is restored to Russia's second largest city, which had been renamed ''Leningrad'' in 1924.