The Imperial train arrived at the Adzhikabul station in Baku on Saturday, October 8, 1888, at 2 p.m. Ships at anchor and batteries saluted. The family was met by many dignitaries: the Vice-Governor of the Baku Province, I. A. Benislavsky, the Mayor S. I. Despot-Zenovich, members of the Baku Duma, and other high-ranking officials.
After greeting each of those who met them, the royal family symbolically accepted bread and salt. Mayor Stanislav Despot-Zenovich delivered a welcoming speech. The Empress was introduced to the ladies of Baku society and received a golden bouquet holder from the mayor. On one side of it was the monogram of Her Majesty, made of diamonds, and on the other, “1888, Baku,” written in enamel.
The royal family proceeded to the St Nicholas Cathedral, where they were met by the Exarch of Georgia, His Eminence Palladius. The next place the royal guests visited was the governor’s residence. An unarmed guard lined both sides of the carriage’s route, and choirs sang. Upon arrival, the Tsar conversed with delegations representing all social classes of the province, after which the family observed the ceremonial march of the 1st Company of the 81st Apsheron Regiment.
At three o’clock, the royal family visited the Mariinsky Girls’ Gymnasium, where they were met by the mayor and the gymnasium administration. As soon as the Emperor and his family crossed the threshold, the choir of students began to sing. Later, in the theater hall, the royal family attended two performances and listened to the choir singing Tchaikovsky’s “Dawn,” after which the students presented the Empress with a white silk-embroidered tablecloth bearing the coat of arms of Baku.
The next place they visited was the Saint Nino Girls’ Gymnasium, where they were met by Vice-Governor I. A. Benislavsky. One of the students delivered a welcome speech to the Empress. The students of the Saint Nino Gymnasium and the local orphanage presented the royal couple with gifts.
Then, the royal family attended the laying of the foundation stone for the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. After the ground was sprinkled and prayers concluded, Palladius placed a silver vessel with holy relics in the foundation, and the Grand Dukes Nikolai, Mikhail, and Georgy added gold coins to it. After the Exarch of Georgia again sprinkled the site, the Emperor laid the first stone in the foundation, followed by the Empress and the Grand Dukes.
The next day, October 9, 1888, at 2:30 p.m., the royal family arrived at the factory belonging to the Nobel Brothers’ Oil Production Company. At the entrance to the factory, the owner’s sister, Mrs. Nobel, presented Her Majesty with a bouquet of flowers in an elegant gilded bouquet holder adorned with transparent enamel and diamonds.
His Majesty was presented with bread and salt on a silver dish covered with fine colored enamel patterns. The salt shaker was made in the form of a kerosene tank. Their Majesties thoroughly inspected the factory: they examined the distillation, reception, and oil pumping departments. Then everyone went to the pier, carpeted for the occasion. Tanker steamers belonging to the Nobel Brothers Company were moored at the pier.
Here, His Majesty was presented with an album of views of the Nobel enterprises in Russia and abroad. The cover of the album was made of solid silver with multicolored enamel patterns. The Crown Prince was presented with an oak box bound with iron, with the golden initials of His Imperial Highness. Inside the box were 24 crystal bottles with samples of oil and all products derived from it. The Grand Duke Georgy was given a silver model of a kerosene tank with the state emblem on its top.
Production and export charts of the Nobel Brothers Company were laid out on the table in the pavilion. The guests drank a glass of champagne. His Majesty toasted to the prosperity of the oil business.
After inspecting the oil tanker “Darwin,” Their Majesties expressed their satisfaction to the owners and headed to the station. The august guests visited the Baku oil fields. At the entrance to Balakhany, an arch in the Persian style was erected, and the exit gates were made of oil drilling tools.
The company’s manager, Mr. Viktor Ivanovich Ragozhin, delivered a welcoming speech and then, on behalf of the company, presented Their Majesties with bread and salt on a silver dish. In several places, oil fountains were released from drilling wells.
Returning to Baku, Their Majesties dined at the governor’s residence at 8 p.m. At 10 p.m., the Imperial train departed for the capital. This was the first and only visit of the royal family to Baku.