Arkhangelsk has always shared its destiny with Russia. Founded “for defense and trade” it has been filling this role throughout its entire history and has been a pillar of strength for the country during hard years. The Merchant Yard building, the monument to Peter the Great, the obelisk on the former dockyard grounds remind us of the role Arkhangelsk played as the first sea port of Russia and the homeland to the domestic Merchant Marines. Arkhangelsk also played a great role in exploring the Arctic. Approximately 200 high-latitude expeditions left from its moorings and now this marine character can be read in the city skyline. In the beginning of the 20^th century Russia lived through three jarring times – the revolution, World War I and the Civil war – these events left an indelible imprint upon the history of Arkhangelsk. A unique Mark V trophy tank, a monument to brave defenders of the Soviet North, an obelisk to Victims of the Intervention at a mass grave and a monument to Pavlin Vinogradov are living proofs of this. Most of monumental memorials in the city remind us of the significance of the northern sea port during the Great Patriotic War: a monument to Victory, to sea cadets from the Solovetskiye islands, to the seal as savior, Stella a “City of Military Glory”…Initially wooden buildings predominated the architectural landscape of Arkhangelsk, but as time passed, architectural styles changed together with the image of the city and buildings of the 17^th – beginning of the 20^th century which survived in course of changes have also become historical sites and architectural memorials.

Sources: Barashkov Y.A. Wooden City Nostalgia./M.:“Crypto-Logos”,1992.Ovsyankin E.I. Merchants’ Arkhangelsk./“Arkhconsult”,2000.Popov G.P. “Stand by the sea with a strong foot”./Arkhangelsk, 1992.Popova L.D. Arkhangelsk: the history of building./ “Pravda Severa”, 1994.