Lost monuments
· Kesklinn
Jaan Anvelt Monument
A monument to Jaan Anvelt at Kompassi Square made an everyday public space carry official Soviet history.
The Anvelt statue was part of the Soviet practice of putting approved political figures into the city’s squares. It spoke not only about the man represented, but also about the version of the past that passersby were expected to accept. After Estonia restored independence, the statue was removed and the square acquired a different meaning. Standing there today, the story is told through absence: political symbols can disappear, but the history of why they were installed remains.
Practical information
Address: Kompassi väljak
View today’s Kompassi Square and compare it with older photographs. The monument is no longer on site.