Touring The Chernobyl Nuclear Accident Site In 2010

Within Pripyat, one of the first buildings we went inside was an arts and recreation complex at the time. These types of complexes within the Soviet Union were known as "Palace of Culture" and common among cities. There was a nicely sized theater inside, a dance hall, a gymnasium, and many other rooms.

In the backroom behind the theater were also many paintings and other props that were to be used for an election taking place that year along with the upcoming first of May celebrations. Broken glass can be found throughout (due to the aforementioned breaking of windows to avoid an excessive build-up of radiation plus vandalism) and many other artifacts from the 80's throughout from shoes to books and even a violin case.

Located near this Pripyat arts building was the brand-new amusement park that was scheduled to open in May of 1986, but because of the accident it was left untouched and remains one of the most photographed areas of the abandoned nuclear town. There were bumper cars, a Ferris wheel, and other rides.

Within the Pripyat amusement park for children and within other Pripyat buildings is small amounts of "artistic graffiti", which was reportedly done by a French visitor a few years back.