Eastern Siberia historical monuments

The eastern tower of the former Yakutsk gaol, built in 1685-1686. Photo: А. Falamov. Eastern Siberia historical monuments

Eastern Siberia historical monuments

In no other part of the world is it as difficult to get at these riches. Man is challenged by severe climatic conditions, perma-frost, impenetrable forests, mighty and swift rivers, stormy ocean and other barriers. That is why only those endowed with daring, endurance, perseverance and firmness can get at its riches. The first to explore this land were Cossacks. Their expeditions took many years. By the middle of the seventeenth century they had reached the northernmost point of the Asian continent, Kamchatka, the Okhotsk sea and the Amur river area. They were followed by the first settlers.
Among the explorers were Bering (a Dane who spent mod of his life in Russia), Stepan Krashenninikov, Steller (a German), Anjoux (a Frenchman), the merchant Grigori Shelikhov (he was born near Kursk, and charted the trade routes across the ocean to California) and Ivan Chersky, a Polish student who was exiled to Siberia for taking part in student uprisings. He lived in Yakutia and devoted his whole life to its exploration.

Саре Dezhnev—the Soviet Union’s extreme northeastern point. Photo: V. Teterin

Саре Dezhnev – Russia’s extreme northeastern point. Photo: V. Teterin. Eastern Siberia historical monuments

But Yakutia and Chukotka, the lake Baikal area and Primorsk territory, Kamchatka and the Sakhalin were not deserted before the coming of the Russian pioneers. Local civilization goes bark many centuries. Siberian archeologists have lately made many interesting discoveries in the mod areas (Chukotka, for example) and step by step have reconstructed the history of Eastern Siberia and the Far East.

Yermak. А sculpture on the monument to Siberian pioneers in Irkutsk. Photo: М. Mineyev. Eastern Siberia historical monuments

A very important role in developing Siberia played those who were exiled here on ‘‘Tsar’s will”. Among those exiled to the farthest and the deepest parts of Siberia were the outstanding representatives of the nation. In far away Ilyimsk Radischev was in exile. Many of the Decembrists, who during the revolt on Senate square were younger than twenty- five, spent most of their lives in Siberian exile. Only a few were fortunate to return home as old men. Chernyshevsky spent twenty years in Siberian exile. And these people took a very active role in developing Siberia.

The word monument can be very widely interpreted. They include not only wooden structures of ancient time that are carefully being preserved against the effects of time and nature; nor the great monuments to the outstanding events and people of the past. They include the monuments of our times, of our deeds, our hopes and accomplishments.
Besides, Siberia is changing fast.

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Monument to the British navigator Captain Charles Clerke. Eastern Siberia historical monuments. Photo I. Weinstein

British navigator Captain Charles Clerke, a contemporary of James Cook and his successor as the head of the third Round-the-World Expedition of 1776-1779. It was “… a gallant but unsuccessful attempt to penetrate the ice beyond the Bering strait…” the ships “Resolution” and “Discovery” sailed into the Avachinsk bау. On its shore they buried Charles Clerke, who died at sea. The monument was constructed bу a delegation of visiting British sailors in 1913. “… to mark their appreciation of the brave and honorable career of the gallant British officer.”

Kiakhta. The house of the merchant Lushnikov, built in 1830-ties, (general view and detail of the stone gates). Photo: O. Kuzmin and A. Falamov. Eastern Siberia historical monuments

This house was frequented by the Decembrists Nikolai and Mikhail Bestuzhev. Here Nikolai Przhevalsky stayed before undertaking his expeditions to Mongolia, Tibet and Northern China in 1870 and 1883. He also stayed here after completing his 1880 expedition to Tibet. In 1892, Grigori and Alexandra Potanina and Vladimir Obruchev (a wife and husband) stayed here before undertaking their expeditions. And the soil expert and scientist Dmitry Prianishnikov was born in this house in 1865.

The house where the First Congress of the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party was held (general view and detail)

The Congress (March I, 1921), adopted the party program and elected the Central Committee and the command of the People’s Revolutionary Army headed by Sukhe-Bator and Choibalsan. Here on March 13, 1921, the Congres of the workers, partisans and party organizations was held to elect the People’s government of the Mongolian Republic headed by Sukhe-Bator. Photo: A. Falamov

“Chiasovnia” monument on Nikolsky hill. Eastern Siberia historical monuments

“Chiasovnia” monument near the mas grave of the sailors and soldiers who died defending the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky from enemy landing on August 24, 1854 (adjoining is the mass grave of the French and British soldiers, who took part in the landing). The monument was constructed in 1910-1912, on donation of the city’s residents. Unveiled on August 24, 1912. In the chapel hangs the Russian Naval banner and stands a cannon that was used in defending the city in 1854. Photo: G. Dmitriev

Eastern Siberia historical monuments

: Opened in 1958, оп the city’s centenary monument to Yerofei Khabarov. Khabarovsk. Sculptor А. Milchin. Eastern Siberia historical monuments

: Over the Siberian taiga

: One of the four towers of the former Yakutsk gaol, built by Russian Cossacks in 1654. Bratsk power station (moved in 1960)

: The Ruskoye Ustiye district on the banks of the Indigirka river, where it flows into the Eastern Siberian Sea. Here in the 17th century stood the settlements of the Russian Cossack pioneers. Yakutia

: Kamchatka landscape. Photo: S. Goriachev

: Nikolskoye (Komandorsky Islands). Monument to Vitus Bering, the leader of the Great Expedition to Siberia and the Pacific. Made in 1966, bу the sculptor А. Solovyov. Photo: I. Weinstein

: Commander Bering’s grave. He died on December 8, 1741. Sculptor A. Bibikov. The inscription reads: “1681-1741. To the Great Explorer Vitus Bering from Kamchatka Residents. June, 1966”. Photo: A. Tsitovich

: Built in 1821, by Russian navy men Monument to the city’s founder Commander Vitus Bering. Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky

: The great French navigator Jean Francois La Perouse (His ships entered the Avachinsk bay in 1787, during his worldwide expedition of 1785-1788). Constructed in 1892, renovated in 1937. Petropavlovsk Kamchatsky

: Irkutsk. Monument on the grave of Grigori Shelikhov (general view and detail of the bas-reliefs). Made in 1800 from Ural marble on orders of N. А. Shelikhova, the explorer’s wife and companion

: G. Nevelsky monument in the park on the Amur river. Made in 1951, the sculptor L. Bobrovnikov

: Gennadi Nevelsky (general view and detail). It stands on the spot where Nevelsky’s expedition spent the winter of 1850—1851. The monument was unveiled in September, 1971. Authors V. Dzunj and V. Baburin

: Nikolayevsk-on-the-Amur. The port. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: The Tabakh hill on top of which Nevelsky built the Chnyrrakh fort in 1855, to protect the Amur. Nikolayevsk-on-the-Amur. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: G. Nevelsky, monument unveiled on August 13, 1950. L. Bobrovnikov — author. Nikolayevsk-on-the-Amur. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: Burial motifs. Photo: A. Falamov and G. Koposov En Bouriatie. Photos A. Falamov

: Mountain range. Photo: О. Kuzmin

: In the tundra. Photo: А. Falamov

: The “Obruchev path” in Oimiakonsk district, Yakutia. The route taken in 1920s Ьу Sergei Obruchev expedition. Photo: А. Falamov

: “Arseniev Cliff” on the Ludia river near the Kavalerovo village. Here the Arseniev expedition camped in 1906. Photo: N. Nazarov

: In the taiga Photo: V. Belokolodov

: Dixon. Monument on the grave of the Taymyr explorer Nikifor Begychev. Made in 1964, by the sculptor А. Abdra- khimov. Photo: V. Khukhev

: The Norwegian sailor Tessem, member of Roald Amundsen’s expedition. The cross at the spot where Tessem died in 1920, was erected by members of the expedition in 1958. Soviet sailors built a monument on the spot. Photo: I. Vinogradov

: Siberian explorers. Photo: A. Falamov

: The wooden Spass church from the town of Zashiversk. Built in 1700, and is the опlу example of Russian wooden architecture that has survived to our time unaltered. In 1971, the church was dismantled and transported to Novosibirsk, to be reconstructed on the territory of the local museum. Photo: M. Ugrin

: Zashiversk. A wooden sculpture depicting a warrior and a maiden, heroes of а legend. Carved in 1971, to stand on the site of the Spass church. Sculptor M. Ugrin

: Ethnographic studies. Photo: G. Koposov

: A deer-path. Photo A. Falamov

: The tent of Vasili Manchary-Fyodonn who lead the Yakut peasants in raids on the estates of the feudal lords in the 1830-ties. Yakutia Photo: A. Falamov

: An old Yakut tomb monument (19th century). Photo: A. Falamov

: 19th century. An old Yakut tomb monument. Photo: A. Falamov

: A Siberian river. Photo: V. Belokolodov

: On the shore of Lake Baikal. Photo: M. Mineyev

: Winter morning. Photo: V. Belokolodov

: The old trade center (general view аnd detail), with rows for meгchant’s stalls аnd special storage facilities for furs аnd agriculture production. A monument of 18th century Russian wooden architecture

: 19th century wooden houses with decorative caгvings. Irkutsk Photo: B. Dmitriev

: The Znamensky church in the Maгatovsk district (detail of the wall and the belfry). Irkutsk. 1757

: Detail of the decorations of the Spassky church (1706—1710). Irkutsk. Photo: А. Falamov

: Kiakhta. The gallery of the former trade center. Built in 1828, by the architect Medvediev. Photo: A. Falamov

: Novoseleginsk (Buriatia). The graves of the Decembrists Nikolai Bestuzhev and Constantin Torson on the left bank of the Selenga river. The iron monuments were cast in 1860-ties at the Petrovsk Iron Works. Photo: G. Koposov

: The house of the merchant Startsev (general view and detail), designed in the 1840-ties by the Decembrist Nikolai Bestuzhev, who was exiled to Novoselenginsk from 1839 to 1855. Photo: O. Kuzmin and A. Falamov

: Akatuj (Chita region). Remains of the walls of the former Akatuj penal colony. The Decembrist Mikhail Lunin died in 1845, while a prisoner here

: The smoke-stack and the pond of the old Petrovsk Iron Works (founded in 1789). The Decembrists did penal servitude here from 1830 to 1839. Petrovsk-Zabaikalsky. Photo: А. Falamov

: Chita. The house built in 1828, for Yelizaveta Naryshkina, wife of the Decembrist. Restored in 1964. Photo: M. Baгabanov

: The graves of the Decembrists Panov and Mukhanov in the former Znamensky monastery. Irkutsk. Photo: V. Belokolodov

: Decembrist Trubetskoy house (general view, fire-place and staircase). He lived here with his family from 1845 to 1856. Opened in the house after it was restored in 1971. Photo: V. Belokolodov and A. Falamov

: The wall of the former penal colony that existed until 1917. Members of the Polish uprising of 1863 were imprisoned here, as well as members of the revolutionary “Narodnaya Volya” party, soldiers and sailors who took part in the first Russian revolution of 1905-1907, and the Bolsheviks. Akatuj

: Kadaya (Chita region). Monument on the grave of the revolutionary the poet Mikhail Mikhailov, who died in the Kadaya prison in 1865. Monument constructed in 1950

: Alexandrovskoye (Chita region). Part of the wall from a house where Cheгnyshevsky lived while in exile in 1867—1868. Photo: А. Falamov

: Tunka (Buriat ASSR). Monument on the grave of the political exile Ivan Barinov, one ofthe “trial of the 50″ ( 1877)—the first political trial in which workers were actively involved. Barinov spent 36 yeaгs in exile. Photo: А. Falamov

: The first Buriat scientist Dorzhi Banzarov monument in Ulan-Ude. Unveiled in 1957 in front of the Buriat Pedagogical Institute, bearing Banzarov’s name. A. Timin—sculptor. Photo A. Falamov

: Chuguyevka (Primorsk territory). Museum in the house where the write Alexandr Fadeyev lived from 1908 to 1912

: The Komsomol youth of 1930-ties. Monument constructed in 1967. P. Tumanov—author. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: Chita Monument on the grave of the Komsomol sportsmen from the Leningrad “Kгasnaya Zaria’’. They died in an accident on September 18, 1935, near Chita. Photo: А. Falamov

: The tip of the continent. Photo: V. Teterin

: The proletarian-fighter. Detail of a monument in Khabarovsk. Photo: V. Paradnya

: Verkholensk (Irkutsk region). A village to which many proletarian revolutionaries were exiled. Photo: A. Falamov

: Nikolai Fedoseyev, monument on the grave. He was one of the first Russian Marxist revolutionaries, who lead the Marxist circle in Kazan attended by Lenin. Constructed in 1971. Photo: A. Falamov

: In this house Sergei Kirov stayed illegally in 1909. Photo: A. Falamov

: The foundry of the former main railroad workshops in Chita. In 1905, the center of revolutionary activity in the Baikal area and of the armed uprising in Chita. The memorial plaque near the factory gates, unveiled on Juty 30, 1963. Photo: А. Falamov

: Innokenti Babailov, the Bolshevik who was active in the revolutionary movement in the Baikal area, and the member of the underground communist part of Chita. Unveiled in November, 1963. А. Tumanov—sculptor

: To those who gave their lives in the struggle to establish Soviet power in the Baikal area. Monument cast and erected in 1922, bу the workers of the Petrovsk factory. Photo: А. Falamov

: Babushkin (Buriat ASSR). The obelisk on the spot where on January 1906, the Bolshevik worker Ivan Babushkin and his followers were executed for taking part in the revolutionary events of 1905. The obelisk was erected near the railway in 1940. Photo: А. Falamov

: Detail of the monument to Babushkin. The bas-relief was made in 1946 Ьу the sculptor Yu. Neroda. Photo: А. Falamov

: Remains of the “Innokentievsk Battery”. Here on January 10-11, the artillery units revolted. They were joined by almost all units of the Vladivostok garrison. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Obelisk on the spot where on December 7, 1907, 16 members of the mine battalion were executed for participating in the armed uprising in Vladivostok on October 29-30, 1907. The obelisk was unveiled on November, 1954. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Obelisk on the bank of the Tykhoi Ьау. Here, on December 11, 1907, 19 sailors of the Siberian flotilla were executed for participating in the armed uprising in Vladivostok of October 1907. Erected in 1955. Photo: N. Nazarov

: On the mass grave of the soldiers of Vladivostok fort’s mine battalion executed for ‘ participation in the 1907 armed uprising. Made in 1961. Photo: N. Nazarov

: The mass grave of the workers of the Lena gold mine, who were executed on April 4, 1912. Made in 1967. Bodaybo (Irkutsk region). Photo: V. Belokolodov

: The Lena miners monument near the Aprelsky village (general view and detail). Opened on April 4, 1972. on the 50th anniversary of the Lena executions. Sculptors N. Shtamm. A. Antropov and S. Rabinovich. Bodaybo, Irkutsk

: Lena miners monument

: To the “Fighters for Soviet Power in the Far East. 1917-1922”. (general view and detail of a side group). Constгucted in 1961. Sculptor А. Teneta. Vladivostok

: А memorial plaque at the “white house” on the grave of the participants of the December 21-30. 1917 defense of the house, and a memorial stele. Constгucted in 1967. Authors S. Nechvolodov. V. Chemeis and O. Riashentsev

: On the grave of the participants of the December 21-30. 1917 defense of the house

: Dalzavod (formerly the Narodny house). Here the First Congres of the Far Eastern Soviets proclaimed the victory of Soviet power in Primoriye on November 29, 1917. Photo: N. Nazarov

: The “Fallen Heroes” monument near the ravine where in Autumn 1918, the Interventionists and White Guard, who captured the city, conducted mas executions. Opened on October 25. 1960. L. Zaishlo—author. Foto: V. Voloshenko

: The monument on the mass grave of the fighters for Soviet power in Primoriye and the heroes of the Civil War. Made in 1961. Vladivostok. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Kiakhta. Obelisk on the mass grave of 1,600 fighter for Soviet power executed by the White Guard in December, 1919—January, 1920. The obelisk was unveiled on September 10, 1954, on the Burgutui ridge. Photo: A. Falamov

: Tayshet (Irkutsk region). Monument to the Civil War hero Ivan Bych-Tayezhni, a partisan Commissar. Constructed in 1958. Photo: А. Falamov

: Isyt (Yakut ASSR). The house where Nester Kalanda- rashvili and his command stopped in February 1922. on way to Yakutia. Photo: A. Falamov

: Kalandarashvili monument to contemporaries — the commanders and soldiers of the 2nd Northern Unit, who died in the engagement at Tektur. Constructed in 1957. Photo: A. Falamov

: Partizansky hill, monument in honor of the Primorsk partisans. Photo: N. Nazarov

: 4 Kamchatka partisans monument on the grave. They died in June, 1922. Erected in 1962. Photo: I. Weinstein

: General view and detail of the monument to the “Heroes of the Civil War in the Far East”. Opened on October 25. 1956. Sculptor A. Feidysh-Krandievsky. The obelisk is 22 m. high. Photo: U. Abramochkin and V. Voloshenko

: Sergey Lazo monument on Pervomaisky Square. Opened on August 12, 1945. L. Pisarevsky—sculptor. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Sergei Lazo, monument on the spot where he was murdered. Opened on December 10, 1950. at the Lazo railway station. Sculptor—N. Borisov. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Pyotr Anokhin—a professional revolutionary and Bolshevik, member of the Far Eastern Branch of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party. Monument opened in November 1964. S. Kriushik—sculptor. Photo: A. Falamov

: Bust to Stepan Seryshev, a Bolshevik revolutionary, and a leader during the Civil War in the Far East. Khabarovsk. Photo: G. Khrenov

: 18 Red Guardsmen and partisans, who died in the battle on March 1-2, 1920, for the liberation of Verkhneudinsk from the White Guard and the interventionist forces. Constructed in 1953, sculptor A. Timin—sculptor

: Dalnerechensk. Monument to the joint struggle of the Russian and Korean partisans, who gave their lives for Soviet power in Primoriye in 1920-1922. Unveiled on October 25, 1958. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Members of the International Brigade (Chinese, Hungarians, Czecks, Germans, Austrians and others) who died in battles to liberate Verkhneudinsk on August 18-20, 1919. Erected in 1959. Ulan-Ude. Sculptor A. Timin

: The yard of the house where from November 22, 1920, lived in hiding the leader of the Mongolian revolutionaries Sukhe-Bator, Besides, in the house opened museum in 1958. The obelisk to Sukhe-Bator constructed by the Kiakhta residents in 1963. Photo: A. Falamov

: The memorial plaque on the building of the Irkutsk Pedagogical Institute, in honor of the Mongolian revolutionary leader Sukhe-Bator, who, in 1920, lived in Irkutsk for five months. Here he organized the “Unen” newspaper and published its first issues. Photo: A. Falamov

: Bugler. Detail of the monument “To the Fighters for Soviet Power” in Vladivostok. A. Teneta—sculptor. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Komsomol Civil War heroes. Unveiled on July 1965. Yu. Neroda—sculptor. Yakutsk Photo: A. Falamov

: Volochayevka. Monument to the outstanding Soviet commander Vasili Bliukher on ljun-Koran hill. Unveiled in October, 1972. I. Kukarin—sculptor. Photo: G. Khreno

: Spassk-Dalny. Monument on the mas grave of town residents, soldiers and partisans murdered in 1918-1922, by the White Guard and the Japanese and American intervention forces. Unveiled on Octover 9, 1966. K. Poperechny— author. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Sailor of the Revolution. Detail of the monument “Fighters for Soviet Power” in Vladivostok. A. Teneta—sculptor. Photo: N. Nazarov

: “Vladivostok – our city” monument to V. I. Lenin on Stadion Square. Unveiled on November 7. 1932. V. Kozlov— sculptor, Sarkisov—architect. Photo: V.Marikovsky and N. Nazarov

: V. I. Lenin monument on Stadion Square. Unveiled on November 7. 1932. Sculptor V. Kozlov

: The shore of the Avachinsk bay at the foot of the Nikolsky hill—the spot French in August. 1854. Constructed in 1882. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: The No. 3 Battery that in 1854. under the command of Lieutenant Maksutov fought heroically against the landing forces. Reconstructed in 1959. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: To the soldiers of the 3rd Artillery Battery. Opened on September 5, 1954, near the battery’s position. Sculptors Yu. Anilov and M. Tolmachev. Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Photo: O. Kuzmin

: The great Russian Naval commander Admiral Stepan Makarov. Unveiled in October 1967, Vladivostok. Sculptor A. Teneta

: Ussuriysk. Monument on the mas grave of soldiers who died in the 1929 border clash. Photo: N. Nazarov

: “To the Heroes of Hasan” a memorial near the Zaozerny hill. The site of fierce battles of Soviet Far East Frontier Units with the Japanese invaders in 1938. Opened in August. 1968. Sculptor A. Faidysh-Krandievsky

: To the city’s residents who died in the Second World War. Memorial unveiled in June 1972. Sculptors N. Iyevleva and S. Nikolin. Komsomolsk-on-the-Amur

: Obelisk to the workers of Dalzavod plant, who died in the Second World War (general view and detail). Erected in 1968. S. Goncharov and A. Lapina – authors. Photo: N. Nazarov

: Detail of the memorial to the cadets of the Pacific Submarine school who died in the Second World War. The memorial was opened on July 29, 1972. Made by A. Aliokhin, V. Korobytsin, V. Doroshenko, V. Kononov, V. Krasnoshekov and A. Ziuzin, under the guidance of S. Khomchik. Vladivostok

: Detail of the memorial to the cadets of the Pacific Submarine school who died in the Second World War. The memorial was opened on July 29, 1972. Made by A. Aliokhin, V. Korobytsin, V. Doroshenko, V. Kononov, V. Krasnoshekov and A. Ziuzin, under the guidance of S. Khomchik. Vladivostok

: Burial soldiers who died in the Second World War (general view and detail). Erected in 1970 in Ulan-Ude Sculptor A. Timin

: Bust of the two-time Hero of the USSR General Afanasi Beloborodov. Unveiled on July 15. 1953. Sculptor G. Motovilov

: The heroes of the merchant fleet (general view and detail), who died in the Second World War. Erected in November, 1967. Sculptors O. Ikonnikov and V. Zverev

: To the 1,500 residents of the district who died in the Second World War. Constructed in 1967. Sculptor E. Popova-Vinokurova. Yakutia

: To the soldiers of the First Far East Front, who died in August 1945. Unveiled in the Pogranychni village on November 4, 1964 (V. Zverev—author), and in the Kamen-Rybolov village in September, 1945 (V. Salnikov—author)

: Before going on watch and returning from guard duty at the USSR state frontier soldiers pay tribute to heroes. Photo: N. Nazarov and A. Falamov

: Baikovo (Sakhalin region). Monument to the sailors who died in the battle for the Shumshu island in August. 1945. Made in 1966

: Shumshu Island. Monument on the mass grave of the naval landing force who died liberating the island. Erected in 1967, close to the graves of Vilkov and Ilichev

: Leonidovo (Sakhalin region). Monument on the mass grave of the soldiers who fell liberating Southern Sakhalin in August, 1945, and on the grave of the Hero of the USSR Smyrnykh. Constructed in October 1945. Photo: A. Pavliuchenko