The city of Kurgan, which is called the capital of the Trans-Urals, is rich in monuments of historical and cultural heritage. In total, the city has more than a hundred objects of cultural significance included in the regional list. 4 of them belong to the list of federal significance. This includes museums, theaters, historic buildings, monuments, and memorial steles.
A large number of sculptural monuments are located in Kurgan. These are monuments in honor of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War and the Civil War, and monuments to famous natives of the region who worked in peacetime. The city is famous for its landscape gardening sculptures, mostly by A. Kozyrev. Many memorials were opened in the 2000s. For example, a monument to the founder of the city Timofey Nevezhin, or the sculptural compositions "Childhood" and "Parents".
Historical and modern monuments of Kurgan
List of the most famous monuments in the city!
Monument to V.I.Lenin
The monument is located in the central square of Kurgan. This is a full-length bronze figure of V. Lenin, the work of the sculptor V. Egorov. It is installed on a marble pedestal specially made at the Leningrad plant. The height of the figure is 6 meters, and together with the pedestal - 13.5 meters. The monument was installed in 1969. It is currently listed as a regional cultural heritage site.
Obelisk in honor of the Victory of the Soviet people in the Second World War
This obelisk is located at the intersection of Pushkin and Volodarsky streets, opposite the local history museum of the Kurgan region. The monument was laid in 1965. Capsules with the ground of the hero cities of the USSR - Moscow, Stalingrad, Minsk, Kiev and others - are dug at its foot. The tall obelisk is made of granite and stainless steel. The figures of the flags at half-mast are engraved with the words "Nobody is forgotten, nothing is forgotten."
Memorial "Wall of Memory"
The monument was created in 2005 by the architect L.A. Kuznetsova. It is a brick wall divided into segments. It contains metal plates with the names of the Kurgan residents who died during the Great Patriotic War. In the central part - the composition "Memorial bell".
Monument to the Decembrists
This monument is located in the City Garden, not far from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It is dedicated to the participants in the Decembrist uprising who served exile in Kurgan in 1830-1857. This is a memorial plate with the names of the exiled Decembrists engraved on a marble plaque. It is decorated with a mosaic panel with a symbolic image of a book and a goose feather. This is a tribute of gratitude from the residents of Kurgan for the educational activities of the Decembrists.
"Parents"
The sculpture was inaugurated on the eve of Mother's Day in 2007. These are bronze figures of a happy husband and a pregnant wife who are dancing. A woman holds an apple in her hand - a symbol of love and marital happiness. The figures are 2.5 meters high. A tradition has been established among the residents of Kurgan to visit this monument after the wedding. Couples in love also come to him. It is believed that the sculpture brings family happiness.
Monument to Natasha Argentovskaya
This is a monument in honor of N. Argentovskaya, a participant in the revolutionary struggle in Kurgan. She died as a result of torture in 1919, during the occupation of Kurgan by the troops of the Czechoslovak Corps. In 1961, in honor of her feat, a monument was erected in the form of a Komsomol member with a bundle of proclamations in her raised hand. In 2013, the monument was restored.
Monument to M.S.Shumilov
A bronze bust of Colonel-General M. Shumilov, Hero of the Soviet Union, was installed in 2010 on Pushkin Street, to the right of the Museum of Local Lore. This is a native of the Kurgan region, who has repeatedly shown courage and heroism during the command of troops during the Great Patriotic War. He participated in such key battles as the defense of Leningrad and the Battle of Stalingrad. The monument was created during the commemorative events dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the Victory.
"Zero kilometer"
The symbolic sign of the "zero kilometer" and the beginning of the roads was installed in Kurgan for the 333rd anniversary of the city. It is located near the base of the stairs of the city main post office. The composition includes a border post with the number "0" and a bronze figure of a postman with a bag. There is a belief that if you make a wish by touching the bag of a postman, it will definitely come true.
Monument to L. B. Krasin
This is a monument in honor of the outstanding Soviet politician L. Krasin. He was an ally of Lenin, held the posts of People's Commissar for Industry, Trade, and Railways. The base of the monument is stylized as an icebreaker, also bearing the name of Krasin. The monument was opened in 1978 and stands at the beginning of the street of the same name, on the banks of the Tobol River.
Monument to Timothy Nevezhin
Timofey Nevezhin is the founder of the city of Kurgan. Earlier, his monument was already installed in the city, but to our time it has not survived, since it was made of temporary materials. The modern monument is made of bronze and is a full-length bronze statue of Timofey Nevezhin. It was opened in 2017 and installed on the Railway Station Square. The author is O. Krasnosheina, a native of Kurgan.
"Coat of arms of the city of Kurgan"
The decorative image of the Kurgan coat of arms is installed opposite the monument to the founder of the city. This is a forged metal coat of arms, at the base of which the inscription is engraved: "To life, Kurgan". It was erected in the spring of 2017, in preparation for the unveiling of the monument to Timothy Nevezhin. Together with the monument, it makes up a single semantic composition.
"Nika the Winner"
The sculpture was installed in 1985, to the anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The figure of Nike, the goddess of victory, trumpeting the horn is set on a high pedestal and seems to hover over the city. The project was supposed to supplement the monument with the figures of a soldier, a worker and a collective farmer - in memory of the common contribution to the Victory. However, the monument remained unchanged. The square where it is located was renamed into the Victors' Square in 1997.
Monument to T. Maltsev
T. Maltsev is a native of the Kurgan region, twice Hero of Socialist Labor. He became famous for his activities as a scientist-breeder, innovator in agriculture. The monument is a sculptural image of Timofey Maltsev walking across the field with three ears of grain in his hands. The monument was opened in 2015, to the 120th anniversary of the birth of T. Maltsev.
Monument to G. Ilizarov
The monument to the famous orthopedic surgeon, inventor of unique methods of treatment G. Ilizarov was erected in 1994. It is located near the building of the "Ilizarov Center" - the Russian Research Center for Reconstructive Orthopedics and Traumatology. This is the figure of a doctor with the famous apparatus of his own invention in his hand. There is another monument to Ilizarov in Kurgan - a genuine car the surgeon drove. It is also installed near the scientific center of traumatology.
Monument to police officers who died in the line of duty
The memorial was opened in 2016 and is located in the park near the Kurgan Philharmonic. The symbolic figure of an employee of the interior, dressed in uniform, with a shield and a sword in his hands, personifies loyalty to duty. The monument was created with donations from veterans and police officers, as well as residents of Kurgan and the region.
Monument to experimental animals
The bronze figure of a dog is installed in a public garden near the Ilizarovsky center. The caption reads "They serve science." The prototype was the dog on which the Ilizarov apparatus was first tested. A real photo of her was used to create the sculpture. The monument was opened in November 2012 and is intended to remind the laboratory animals of the merits.
"Childhood"
The sculptural composition was opened in the Kurgan Children's Park on Children's Day - June 1, 2012.It is made in the form of bronze figures of a boy and two girls, who are circling in a round dance, holding hands. The sculpture was created on the initiative and with donations from the Mother and Child Protection Fund.
Monument to P. Vereshchagin
The monument to the hero of the film "White Sun of the Desert" Pavel Vereshchagin was erected near the building of the Kurgan customs. This is a symbolic image of an honest customs officer who sacrifices himself in doing his duty. The money for the creation of the monument was collected from the personal funds of customs officers, and on their initiative in 2007 the monument was opened.
Steam locomotive-monument FD20-2697
This is a steam locomotive in 1939, installed on the "eternal parking" as a monument to the work of the Kurgan railway workers during the Great Patriotic War. He also personifies the contribution of the railway employees to the post-war construction and restoration of the Kurgan region. The monument was erected in 1980 on the Railway Station Square of the city.
Monument to D. Smolin
The bronze monument to the industrialist and philanthropist, honorary citizen of Kurgan D. Smolin was erected in 2000. It is located opposite the former distillery, which also belonged to Smolin. Now in the building of the former management of the distillery is the plant management of JSC "Kurganrozhzhi". The historic building has been restored, and a park is laid out nearby, where the monument is erected.
"To the soldiers who died in local wars"
The monument to the natives of the Kurgan Territory, who died in local wars and conflicts, was opened in 2000. This is a bronze figure of a falling wounded soldier. The names of 205 soldiers and officers who died in the wars of the second half of the 20th century are engraved on the slabs at the foot of the monument. Nearby, the Eternal Flame burns in honor of the feat of the fallen soldiers. In 2018, the monument and the square in which it is located were reconstructed and reopened.
Monument to Kolya Myagotin
The opening of the monument took place in 1962. This is a monument in honor of the pioneer hero Kolya Myagotin, a native of the village of Kolesnikovo, Kurgan region. He is considered a pioneer who repeated the fate of Pavlik Morozov - he was killed for denouncing the theft of collective farm grain by his fists. In the post-Soviet period, this version has been repeatedly criticized. The subject of controversy was the text on the plaque - "Pioneer-hero Kolya Myagotin, brutally killed by fists." At the moment, this plaque is not on the monument. Attempts were made to develop a new text. Now on the monument there is a short inscription "Pioneer Kolya Myagotin".
"Reading girls"
This is a sculptural composition by A. Kozyrev, the official name of which is "Girlfriends". Gradually, however, the inhabitants of Kurgan renamed it “The Reading Girls”. According to legend, the prototypes of the girls were real residents of the city, whom the sculptor saw sitting next to a book. Now the sculpture needs restoration, but it is still one of the favorite compositions of the townspeople.
Monument to D.M. Karbyshev
The monument is located in the courtyard of the boarding school No. 17. It represents the figure of D. Karbyshev, who, thinking, bent over the maps of military operations. On the front side of the pedestal, images of the hero's awards are engraved. The monument was created in 1975, designed by the sculptor A. Kozyrev, and installed at the expense of teachers and students of school No. 17, earned on subbotniks.
Monument to A. Matrosov
The sculpture of the hero of the Great Patriotic War A. Matrosov was installed at the beginning of Gvardeyskaya Street. This is a full-length statue of a warrior, with a hand raised high in a salute. The monument was created in 1987 based on the sketches of the sculptor G.P. Levitskaya. It serves as a reminder of the feat of A. Matrosov, who sacrificed himself on the battlefield.
Monument to A.D.Sazonov
The bust of A. Sazonov, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, is located near the building of Kurgan State University. The choice of location is not accidental - A. Sazonov was the rector of this university from 1968 to 1995, when the university was still called the Kurgan Pedagogical Institute. The monument was opened in May 2017.
"Tank T-34"
This is a monument in honor of the Kurgan training tank regiment, which was formed during the Second World War. The number "25" on the side of the tank denotes the serial number of the training regiment. The tank was assembled by the workers of the wheeled tractor plant from T-34 parts. Some parts were missing, so they were replaced with similar ones from the T-55. In 1985, the monument was erected on a concrete pedestal at the beginning of Koli Myagotin Street.
"Zauralites - Heroes of the Soviet Union"
A memorial stele with the names of the inhabitants of the Trans-Urals, awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, was opened on Victory Day - May 9, 1985. Initially, there were 98 names on the stele. Later, it also included the names of the full holders of the Order of Glory, and 15 more names of the Heroes of the Soviet Union who were born in the Trans-Urals. The memorial is located in the center of Kurgan, on Volodarsky Street.
Monument to the Victims of Political Repression
This is a symbolic tombstone in memory of the inhabitants of the Kurgan Territory who died during the years of Stalinist repressions. In total, 788 thousand people suffered, of which 363 thousand were children, old people and women. The author of the project is M.L.Shangin, a prisoner of the GULAG from 1937 to 1958. The monument was created on the initiative of the "Memorial" society with donations from the residents of Kurgan and funds from the city administration.
Monument to D.E.Pichugin
In Kurgan there are two monuments to the hero of the civil war D. Pichugin. The first was created by the sculptor A. Kozyrev and opened in 1959 in the park near the polyclinic of the Internal Affairs Directorate on Koli Myagotin Street. The second is located in the park near the Mir cinema on Gagarin Street and was built at the expense of the Komsomol members of Kurgan. Its authors are S. Goloshchapov and B. Voropai. Both monuments are included in the list of cultural heritage of the region.
