Stalin’s Illegal Underground Printing House Museum

Hidden beneath an ordinary-looking house in Tbilisi, Stalin’s Underground Printing House Museum is one of the city’s most unusual historical attractions. Located in the Avlabari area, the museum preserves a secret printing operation used by revolutionaries during the final years of the Russian Empire.

The site is closely associated with the young Joseph Jughashvili—later known as Joseph Stalin—and other members of the revolutionary movement. Today, visitors can descend beneath the house, see the historic printing press and explore a place that once produced banned newspapers, books, brochures and political proclamations.

The Secret Printing House Beneath Tbilisi

The illegal printing house began operating in 1903. From the street, the building appeared to be an ordinary residential home, but its real design included a concealed underground chamber and secret entrances.

A rapid printing machine was transported from Baku in separate pieces, carried underground and assembled inside the hidden room. Workers from legal printing houses secretly supplied the necessary typefaces.

Publications were printed in Georgian, Russian and Armenian before being transported and distributed beyond Tbilisi. The operation had to remain completely hidden from the authorities of the Russian Empire.

A small bell system connected the people upstairs with those working below:

• One ring meant: stop printing immediately.
• Two rings meant: the danger had passed and work could continue.
• Three rings meant: come upstairs – lunch was ready.

The printing house operated until 15 April 1906, when Tsarist gendarmes discovered the underground chamber. The house was burned and the secret printing facility was destroyed. It was later reconstructed and opened as a museum in 1937.

What Can You See Inside?

The museum is small, but its underground layout makes it one of the most atmospheric historical places in Tbilisi.

Visitors can see:

• The concealed underground printing chamber
• The historic printing machine and related equipment
• Secret passages and entrances beneath the house
• Revolutionary newspapers, brochures and photographs
• Soviet-era portraits, banners and memorabilia
• Rooms displaying how the building may have looked during the operation

The most impressive part of the visit is descending into the underground room and seeing how such a large printing operation could remain hidden beneath an ordinary residential building.

Why Historical Context Matters

The museum allows visitors to see an authentic historical location, but the exhibits alone do not always explain the complicated political story surrounding it.

The printing house existed before the creation of the Soviet Union. It belonged to the revolutionary struggle against the Russian Empire, but some of the people connected with this movement later became leading figures in the Bolshevik regime.

The museum was reconstructed during Stalin’s rule, and parts of its exhibition still reflect the way Stalin and the revolutionary movement were presented during the Soviet period. For this reason, it is important to separate documented history from Soviet propaganda, political mythology and later interpretations.

A short independent visit will show you the underground press. A knowledgeable local guide will help you understand why it existed, who used it, what was being printed and how this early revolutionary movement later became connected to Soviet power in Georgia.

Visit the Museum on Our Soviet Tour of Tbilisi

The Underground Printing House Museum is one of the main interior visits included in our Soviet Tour of Tbilisi.

This is not a standard sightseeing tour. It is a story-driven historical experience that combines documented events with Georgian perspectives, local memory and critical discussion.

During the tour, we use the printing house as the starting point for a much larger story. We discuss:

• Revolutionary movements and Stalin’s Georgian origins
• Georgia’s independence in 1918
• The Red Army invasion and Soviet annexation
• Political repression, censorship and propaganda
• Daily life in Soviet Georgia
• The collapse of the Soviet Union
• Georgia’s difficult post-Soviet years
• How Georgians understand their Soviet past today

We clearly distinguish between established historical facts, political interpretations, Soviet narratives and stories that remain disputed.

The tour includes an interior visit to the Underground Printing House Museum and continues by Tbilisi Metro to other important locations connected with Georgia’s Soviet and post-Soviet history.

See More Than the Museum

Visiting independently allows you to see the secret chamber and printing press.

Joining our Soviet Tour allows you to understand the people, ideas and political events behind them.

Discover the Underground Printing House on our Soviet Tour of Tbilisi

Practical Information

Opening hours and admission arrangements may change. Different online listings currently provide conflicting schedules, while the museum’s official information page does not publish confirmed visitor hours. It is best to check the latest information before making a separate visit.

Is the The Stalin’s Underground Illegal Printing House Museum Worth Visiting?

Yes – especially for travelers interested in Stalin, revolutionary history, the Russian Empire, Soviet propaganda and Georgia’s complex 20th-century past.

The hidden chamber and printing machinery make the museum visually memorable. However, the location becomes much more meaningful when its story is connected to Georgia’s independence, Soviet annexation, political repression and the continuing debate about Stalin’s legacy.

For the fullest experience, visit the museum as part of our Soviet Tour of Tbilisi and explore the history through documented facts and a local Georgian perspective.