The book analyzes for the first time the situation in which residents of one of the cities of the palace department - Gatchina - fell in February 1917. Being funded from the treasury and not having, unlike other cities, their own government body - the city duma, as well as the city budget, after the fall of the monarchy, active citizens themselves had to take control of the city. On the basis of documents found in 9 archives, it is shown how the Provisional Committee of the city of Gatchina worked, the police were created, how the clashes of political opponents unfolded before the elections to the City Duma, the former palace employees fought for a pension and assistance was provided to refugees.