Over the four centuries of its existence, Tomsk has overgrown with a huge number of monuments and memorial complexes. Even indigenous Tomsk citizens can hardly list them without ever getting lost. Along with reminders of historical events, the streets of Tomsk are full of modern art objects.
Local residents have an irrepressible wit, so ironic monuments have long become the hallmark of the city. There are plenty of classical monuments here. But, if a tourist is attracted by extraordinary sculptures, he should definitely visit the Siberian city on the Tom River.
Historical and modern monuments of Tomsk
List of the most famous monuments in the city.
"400 years of Tomsk"
On Lenin Square, next to the administrative building, there is a monument erected in honor of the city's birthday in 2004. The design of the monument clearly demonstrates the entire centuries-old biography of Tomsk. At the corners of the square there are pillars depicting all the main events that have ever taken place here. And the sculpture itself is adorned with the crown of the Russian Empire.
"Motherland Mother hands over arms to her son"
The huge sculpture is part of an entire memorial complex, which continues to expand to this day. The monument, which took 28 tons of bronze, was under development for a long time. The best sculptors of the USSR proposed their options, but not a single project was approved. In 1979, the Memorial of Military and Labor Glory was nevertheless opened. And its main decoration was precisely the image of a woman giving weapons to a young warrior.
Monument to the ruble
A funny and unusual monument to the Russian currency was erected on Novosobornaya Square. The weight of the coin is 250 kg, and it is made of wood, which symbolizes the forest industry of the region. Since 2008, the two-meter monument has been considered the main object of the annual city carnival. The wooden ruble exactly repeats the design of the original currency of the Russian Federation and is rightfully called the largest ruble in the world.
"I'll sing right now ..."
The famous wolf from the Soviet cartoon "Once upon a time there was a dog" is one of the most amazing monuments of the city. The bronze contains a filling in the form of a microcircuit, with which the wolf can pronounce its legendary phrases. In 2005, local entrepreneurs presented such an interesting sculpture to Tomsk. In their opinion, the image of a cheerful character perfectly reflects the state of happiness and euphoria.
Monument to A.P. Chekhov
The controversial monument evokes a smile from some, while others are outraged. Without shoes, with unnaturally large legs, Chekhov looks extremely ridiculous. The thing is that the literary genius Tomsk did not like and spoke badly about the city. The sculptor L. Usov deliberately depicted the writer in an unsightly form, with an ironic inscription on the pedestal. A kind of revenge succeeded - now it is one of the most visited monuments of Tomsk.
Monument to V.I.Lenin
The 9-meter Ilyich rises on the oldest square of the city with the same name as the leader of the proletariat. Initially, the sculpture was not cast for Tomsk at all, but the original customers refused it due to financial reasons. And then the authorities of Tomsk decided to acquire a cast-iron leader to decorate their city. In 1959, the monument was delivered from Kiev, and since then it has been a permanent "resident" of the city.
Monument to A.S. Pushkin
A small bust of the famous poet is located near the registry office on Lenin Avenue. Until that moment, Tomsk had never once tried to honor the memory of Pushkin. But each of the erected monuments was dismantled for different reasons. And in 1999, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Alexander Sergeevich, the authorities of Tomsk still found a place for a modest but majestic bronze image of the poet.
"Conquest of Siberia"
This interesting monument is the work of the brilliant Italian sculptor Safardiar. The bronze depicts the Cossack Ermak, who made his contribution to the conquest of Siberia, who rides on a mythical horse with five legs. The image of an amazing animal is inspired by the legends of the peoples of the north. It is difficult to say whether the Cossack chieftain is directly related to Tomsk. But next to the monument there is a sports complex "Ermak", so the place was chosen very symbolically.
Monument to the students of Tomsk
The Great Martyr Tatiana has long been considered the protector and patroness of students. And the graceful sculpture on Novosobornaya Square depicts Tatiana herself and two children, enthusiastically reading a book. The monument has been standing here since 2004 and is dedicated to all students of the city. On January 25, at the foot of the sculpture, folk festivities are held in honor of Tatiana's day and the students' holiday.
Monument to home slippers
A cute monument in honor of size 45 slippers is installed at the front door of the Tomsk hotel. Once this funny sculpture was even put up for auction, but still remained in its hometown. The author of the idea is sculptor Oleg Kislitsky. A plinth with a trampled bronze pair of shoes hints at the hospitality of a local hotel and encourages visitors to the city to feel at home.
Monument to the Traveler Frog
The same creator of the house slippers monument has brought to life an equally curious sculpture. The smallest monument on the planet depicts a frog sitting on a stone. Just 44mm tall in this painstakingly sculpted sculpture. The frog has been pleasing Tomsk residents since 2013 and makes a pleasant impression on travelers who stay at the Tomsk hotel.
Monument to F.M.Zinchenko
The feats of the Hero of the Soviet Union Fyodor Zinchenko were celebrated by the authorities of Tomsk with a monument in 2015. Zinchenko was born in the Tomsk region, and for Tomsk residents this is a special pride. In the post-war period, the hero was awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples. But the main achievement that made him famous was the position of commandant of the Reichstag. The composition of the monument is supplemented with excerpts from the biography of Zinchenko.
"Baby in Cabbage"
In 2008, the previously mentioned sculptor Oleg Kislitsky decorated the site in front of the city maternity hospital №1 with another creation. The baby in the cabbage leaves symbolizes the popular story that parents tell their children. The local philanthropist sponsored the installation of the original monument. Now the newlyweds come to the sculpture for photo sessions in order to mentally bring closer the birth of the first child in the family.
Monument to I. Chernykh
A patriotic monument to a military pilot from Tomsk was erected on the eve of Victory Day in 2006. Ivan Chernykh is the first native of Tomsk to be officially recognized as a hero in the Soviet Union. During the Great Patriotic War, Chernykh died, fulfilling his duty to his homeland. The pedestal depicts the hero himself and his plane, engulfed in flames.
Monument to N. Putintsev
An honorary citizen of Tomsk or simply Uncle Kolya, as the locals called him, is a real legend of the city. An ordinary traffic cop went down in history as the most responsible and conscientious policeman. Nikolai Platonovich devoted more than 20 years to his favorite work, almost never went to sick leave and received many awards for his services. Putintsev passed away in 2011, and a year later a bronze copy of Uncle Kolya appeared in his post next to the Aelita cinema.
"Tree of knowledge"
In honor of the 55th anniversary of the Tomsk University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics in 2017, a surreal sculpture appeared in Tomsk. It is located on the square in front of the educational building and is made of steel. A tree growing from an egg, hung with book folios, is a symbol of knowledge and wisdom. Each of the dozen books denotes a specific faculty of TUSUR.
"For a woman and a teenager who forged Victory in the rear"
Victory in the Great Patriotic War is a merit not only of the army, but also of invisible home front fighters.The memory of those who worked in factories during wartime was honored with a monument on Novosobornaya Square. On the 70th anniversary of the Victory, a touching monument was erected in Tomsk depicting a woman and a boy holding a shell. Since then, a tradition has been born in Tomsk to bring flowers here during the Victory Day celebrations.
Monument to a pregnant woman
There are many similar monuments in the world, but it is the sculpture in Tomsk that is famous for its originality. In the womb of a woman, made of metal rods, there is a baby made in the same style. The exact idea of the art object is unknown, but it is assumed that the rods symbolize the mother's desire to protect her child. In the summer of 2005, the monument was erected on the campus of a medical university. An interesting fact - the location of the baby in the womb is made with high precision.
"Family bonds"
2008 in Russia was dedicated to the family. And a thematic bronze monument at the corner of st. Shevchenko reminds residents of the value of family ties. The sculpture turned out to be very symbolic: a man and a woman seem to merge into a single whole. And at the junction of their bodies - a through hole. The couple holds a baby in their arms. The idea of the object is that both the father and the mother give a part of themselves, bringing the heirs into this world.
Monument to brewers, founders of brewing in Siberia
There is not only one monument, but a whole beer alley in Tomsk. The idea came from the management of a local beer and soda company. After all, brewing is an integral part of the history of these places. The famous sculpture of a brewer with a wooden barrel is located at the end of the alley. Landmark - Arkady Ivanov street. On the way to the sight, you can read "beer" quotes of famous personalities and relax on the wrought-iron benches.
Lover monument
A strange but comical monument amuses visitors to the Tomsk Museum of History. The sculpture depicts an unlucky lover taken by surprise. A poor fellow in only his underpants hangs on the cornice. Tomsk residents approached the opening of the monument with humor - the presentation took place on Valentine's Day. And the museum staff maintain a special tradition - every year they change the man into new underpants.
"Professors V. Florinsky and D. Mendeleev from grateful Siberians"
Scientists Florinsky and Mendeleev played an important role in the birth of Tomsk State University. And in 2018, the city paid tribute to these great scientists. The monument was erected exclusively for charitable contributions from the residents of Tomsk. Its distinctive detail is a sign at which you can point your smartphone and see what the surroundings looked like in the last century.
"My first teacher"
For Teacher's Day in 2010, a real gift was installed near the Pedagogical University for all educators in Tomsk. The monument to the first teacher is associated with memories of primary school. The portrayal of an unintelligent first grader and a patient teacher glorifies the hard work of teaching. Part of the money for the installation of the sculpture was allocated by the local authorities, and the remaining amount was collected by the Tomsk residents throughout the city.
Memorial to the Creators of Space Technology
On Kirov Square there is a 13-meter monument to all those who have dedicated their lives to the creation of space technology. In the center is the honored citizen of the city Pyotr Vasilyevich Golubev, who founded the Polyus research and production center. Behind him is an imitation rocket and satellites floating in the air. The memorial was erected in 2011, timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of Polyus's existence.
Stele in memory of the heroes of the Patriotic War of 1812
In 2012, a memorial complex was opened near the river station, reminiscent of the soldiers who died in the battles of the Patriotic War of 1812. The key detail of the memorial is a ten-meter stele with an eagle on top. The monument is dedicated to those who fought in the Tomsk Infantry Regiment. Around - a refined park, where the townspeople walk with pleasure.
"Ellie and Her Friends"
Few people know that the author of "The Wizard of the Emerald City" A. Volkov lived for some time in Tomsk. And now the characters in his book have literally appeared on the streets of the city. A sculptor from Slovakia has been working on the creation of Ellie and her magical friends for over a year. And in 2014, in the presence of the writer's relatives, a grand opening of the monument took place on Komsomolsky Prospekt.
"Glory to the victorious warrior"
In 2011, Novosobornaya Square was replenished with another monument on the theme of the Great Patriotic War. A bronze soldier standing on a pedestal holds a banner in his hands, and an eagle beats in agony under his boot as a symbol of the Nazi coat of arms. It is difficult to pass by the monument - it is located at the very beginning of the Victory Alley and harmoniously fits into the overall style of the square.
Monument to the miner Fedor Eremeev and the miner
Eremeev was the first to find ore deposits in the vicinity of Tomsk in the 17th century. His statue adorns the territory of the Polytechnic Institute. A couple of meters from Fyodor Eremeev there is an abstract bronze miner, together they make up the composition of the memorial. The reason for the installation of such a monument was loud - 100 years from the first graduation of students of the Faculty of Mining Engineering in Siberia.
Participants of the student construction movement
The concept of construction teams is a thing of the past. But those who, during their student years, participated in works on virgin lands, realize the value of this monument. By the 50th anniversary of the creation of the first construction detachments, the authorities of Tomsk presented residents with a reminder of the bygone days. The monument is located in the area of the Sports Palace, in the evening the monument is illuminated.
"250 years of service to Russia"
During the reign of Tsarina Catherine II, the Tomsk region became a home for many German immigrants. With the participation of the city authorities and the German diaspora, a bronze symbol was installed on Krasnoarmeyskaya Street in Tomsk in 2015. It is intended to remind people of those significant events for the development of the region. The plot depicted by the sculptor symbolizes the roots of the Russified Germans and the joint achievements of the two peoples.
