The old part of Yakutsk

On September 27, 2006, a warm and sunny day, inauguration and consecration ceremony of an Old Town historical-architectural complex took place in Yakutsk. Indeed, that event became historical for that ancient (for Siberian scale) town.

Founded in 1632 by Peter Beketov, a Cossack company commander, Yakutsk had been for a long time the administrative center of all East Siberian territories of Russia. It was growing gradually taking its own appearance, peculiar only to that town… But, time is ruthless; it wears away not only the stone but turns in dust and trash even the strongest timber made of Siberian larch- tree… Unfortunately, people, voluntarily or not, contributed to that as well. Houses were perished in fire, destroyed, taken down and rebuilt… And that was going on for centuries!

And, finally, a new time, a new understanding of history and traditions have come when people have learnt not only to fix their eyes at the future but to estimate the past at its true worth…

Old Yakutsk also experienced that lot to follow that hard and long way to its resurrection. The first steps were made in the early eighties already, under Yu.S. Korkin, Chairman of Yakutsk Executive Committee of the City Council; then, in 1991, on the instructions of Pavel Borodin, the first Mayor of Yakutsk, and Semion Nazarov, Yakutsk Chief Architect, a group of historians and architects (Panteleimon Petrov, Mikhail Ilyin, Maria Alexeyeva) developed a historical concept of building up some protected zones, namely : Old Town and Zalog.

But a decisive role in reconstruction of the Old Town was played by an interested and active position of Vyacheslav Shtyrov, current Sakha (Yakutia) President. In 1999, when he was President of ALROSA company, he assigned large means for reconstruction of Grado-Preobrazhenskaya church and Kruzhalo trading center. In 2002 this historical district was taken completely under President’s wing.

Very much effort were applied by officials, administrators, scientists, students of local lore, architects, builders and old residents for reconstruction of the Old Town. Best regards to them for that from all Yakutsk residents!

And now, finally, this long-expected moment has come – the Old Town has come alive, begun to speak and even to sing and dance!

Written by Alexei Zuev, photographer, member of Yakutsk affiliate of the All-Russian Society for Nature and Culture Protection