The paper considers several aspects of the creation and reinforcement of an image of Novgorod as the "road not taken" in Russia's political and economic history. This can be seen in the continuation of a Novgorod chronicle tradition well after Novgorod lost its independence in the 1470s and in the thinking of liberal intellectuals in modern Russia. An interesting aspect of this "invention" of Novgorod can be seen in historic preservation activities in the Novgorod of the late 20th century, some of which will be illustrated through the use of slides.