OMSK

Everyone who has once visited Omsk notices its openness, breadth and peculiarity. The city on the banks of the Irtish and Om rivers is beautiful in a Siberian manner.
A beautiful site was chosen for the new fortress by the guardsman of Peter the Great I.Buchholz, when in spring of 1716 he and his detachment made a landing on the shore of the free Irtish, in the place where this powerful Siberian river takes the quiet Om into its broad riverbed. According to the edict of the tsar Peter the Great and his deputy in Siberia prince Gagarin, pioneers erected here the fortification to guard the south Russian borders. Thus was founded the town, which in our days became the largest industrial and cultural center of Siberia. No trace was left of wooden fortress —but the ancient stone houses and the entrance fortress gates on the right bank of the river Om, where it flows into the Irtish, still keep the voices of the remote past. Right here in the 1760s, a new fortification was founded, this time built of stone. In 1782 the fortress settlement was given the name of a town. Among inhabitants of this town were merchants, artisans, officials, but most people were the military
At different times the post of West Siberian Governor-general was held by P. Kaptsevich and G. Husford. During that time the town grew considerably, was decorated with gardens and stone buildings.
The fortress is the historical heart of Omsk. At present we can find here the buildings of different epochs: Catherine the Great baroque of the former guardhouse (the Regional Military Registration and Enlistment Office now) stands next to red-brick facades of the beginning of the 20th century buildings, severe forms of Military Assembly (House of Officers) are close to modern volumes of the Dzherzhinsky Palace of Culture. Many buildings in the fortress are connected with the name of the great Russian writer F.Dostoevsky. First of all it's the house of commandant, where in 1990 was placed the Dostoevsky Literary Museum.
In 1894 when the railroad came to Omsk it was called the Gates of Siberia. The Great Siberian Track made the economic contacts of business men more active and easier, by connecting Omsk with Moscow, Petersburg and Far East. The representatives of famous Russian and foreign firms came to the far Siberian town. Due to this Omsk started intensive construction of imposing buildings: banks, shops, apartments and offices.
In our days the work of organizations responsible for the keeping of Omsk antique memorials became animated, there appeared enthusiasts-students of local lore, whose opinion is considered by the community. The city's department of architecture lead by A.Karimov has provided the restricted areas where the erection of new buildings is strictly regulated.
There almost was no civil construction during the war. On the vacant lots were urgently erected shops of military plants. In those days started their activities the Baranov motor works, the Oktyabtskaya Revolution tank plant, Omsk tyre plant and many others, turning Omsk into large industrial center of Siberia. The builders lived in barracks which disappeared totally only in the 70s.
In the 50-s-60-s in the North West of Omsk due to the construction of the first Siberian oil refinery grew the town of oil industry workers. This town appeared on the spot which since the 18th century occupied "the quiet little village of Zakhlamino, surrounded by the windmills" as wrote I.Belov in his "Travel Notes and Impressions of Western Siberia" in the 1850s.
The idea of the city-garden presented for the first time in 1919 by the engineer D.Werner was incarnated in the end of the 50-s, when the city was all in green and the lawns of parks and public gardens were filled with exotic flora. Many interesting buildings appeared in Omsk during last decades. Among the buildings which enriched the city's panorama we can enumerate the Trade Center, the builders of which were awarded the State prize in 1968, the Pushkin Scientific Library (architects Y.Zakharov, G.Narizyna, T.Moraz, I.Lubchich) on the Krasny Put street. Omsk architects are trying to form the complete ensembles, they attach great importance to the moulding of building's silhouette, use widely the natural factors in their creative plans. And at the same time they don't forget the antiquity and understand the necessity of its preservation. The city cherishes its past. The architects and antiquity lovers restored the Serafimo-Alexeevskaya Chapel, which even now is surrounded by numerous legends. One of them tells that the Chapel was built in 1908 to memorize the birth of the Cesarevitch Alexei. Another tells that it was built to memorize the soldiers killed in Russian war with Japan. The chapel was torn down in the 1920-s and was rebuilt brick by brick by the project and super- vision of artist V.Desyatov.
You can meet the history of Omsk not only on the streets of the city. It lives in the museums, in the inspirational works of Omsk artists, actors and history scientists. Omsk museum of local lore, history and economy is the oldest in Siberia. It was founded in 1878 by the famous Siberian scientists, explorers and public figures: M.Pevtsov, G.Potanin, N.Yadrintsev, I.Siovtsov
The museum depositories are filled with more than 250.000 unique items telling about the history of the land, about its nature, its culture. Each visit to the museum is a joy of knowing your past, modern life of your native city, a joy of meeting professionals, a joy of joining to the tense spiritual activity of enthusiasts. In 1924 the Vrubel Museum of Fine Arts was established as the art department of the museum of local lore, history and economy. Its collection includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and works of arts and crafts. The pride of the museum collection make canvases by Russian artists I.Repin, V.Serov, I.Shishkin, V.Surikov, I.Levitan.
The former general-governor palace is very beautiful but too small for the huge museum collection and that's why the new building — the former trade house built in 1914 by the architect A.Kryachkov and restored by the Omsk specialists — was granted for that collection. Recently museum moved to that new building. There is enough space now to exhibit icons, Siberian tumuli gold, Faberge jewelry, glass and ceramics items which for many long years were kept in its depositaries.
Five years ago in Omsk appeared the memorial museum of the Peoples Artist of Russia Kondraty Belov. It is placed in the old wooden house and is the bright example of the city's care for its talented sons It's filled with warm atmosphere of cosiness.
The Dostoevsky Literature Museum is also one of the city's memorial museums. Until recently it was the department of the Museum of Local Lore, History and Economy but now it's the independent scientific- literature center
A.Lieberov is the real singer of Siberian nature. His pastels are so deep and so lyrical, you can't take you eyes off of them. Many today's artists are his apprentices. Alexey Lieberov organized the artistic-graphic faculty of the Pedagogical University, opened the Lieberov centre.
Omsk is theatrical city. It has 5 state and 3 municipal theatres for 1200 thousand city dwellers. It's hard to buy tickets for many plays and today in the developing market relations when many theatres in different cities close, here in Omsk in the beginning of the nineties there opened 4 more theatres. Theatricality of the city was formed by many generations of enthusiasts. We can find its sources in the fair show-booths and in the private theatre which appeared in the Omsk fortress by the order of the Siberian Corps commander lieutenant-general I.Springer in 1764 "to polish young people.
Today the leading city theatre — the Academic Drama Theatre occupies the house built in 1904-1905 with the money gathered from the city dwellers. The building was reconstructed many times and is an architectural monument now. During different years Omsk Drama gave to Russia Vladimir Torsky, Vazlav Dvorzhetsky, Vladimir Rautbart, Spartak Mishulin, Mikhail Ulyanov. In recent years on its stage shone the talents of People's artists Aleksey Teplov, Sergey Filippov, Nozhery Tchonishvily, Alexander Shchegolev, Boris Kashihn. The theatre's "hours of triumph" was the time when its artistic leaders were Yakov Kirzhner, Arthur Khaikin, and later Gennady Trostenetsky. Exactly at that time the theatre discovered new authors, new plays, twice became the State prize winner, was awarded the title of academic and Order of the Red Banner of Labour. It's difficult to buy tickets to Omsk Drama. Not long ago the theatre opened a chamber stage, named after the People's artist of Russia, State prizes winner Tatyana Ozhigova. Since the middle of the eighties, when borders have been opened theatre actively invites foreign producers and often tours abroad. The theatre was invited to the World Theatre Festival, performed in Geneva, Warsaw and Poznan, in Remscheid, got into close creative contacts with the Milwaukee (USA) repertoire theatre.
The former Operetta Theatre received the status of Musical Theatre in the end of 1981 together with a new building erected in the center of the city by the project of Moscow architectural workshop. The modern outward appearance, spacious foyers with pictures by the leading city painters, large but cosy auditorium, stage equipped with up-to-date sound and light devices create the special theatrical atmosphere.
The municipal theatre of drama and comedy the Gallery is young and talented. It was born due to the love to the theatre of a group of actors, unquestionable organising talent of its artistic leader V.Vitko and cares of the City Administration. The theatre's orientation to the staging of home plays creates the definite image, forms the spectators' interest.
And how wonderful are winter holidays with the bright sun and strong Siberian frost! They include the New Year holiday with obligatory merry ice sledges and fortresses, with troika rides and Siberian fun competitions, Shroventide with its fairs, skomorokhs and traditional pancakes.
The City Day is of a special interest. It's held in the beginning of August. All city parks of culture and rest with their carnival and concert programs take part in this holiday. And finally the general fireworks prepared by special scenario finish the holiday. The Soul of Russia that's the name of a holiday born in 1992 on the City Administration's initiative. It's the holiday of Russian original national culture revival. This holiday includes creative meetings, scientific conferences on problems of revival and development of national cultures, festive gatherings in the streets and many concerts held by professionals and amateurs. The holiday of folklore song and dance which became international now is the organic part of it. Everyone who has once visited Omsk notices its kind openness, breadth and peculiarity.
The greatest cultural values are concentrated in the museums of the Omsk - regional Museum of Local Lore and Museum of Imitative Arts.
Regional Museum of Local Lore was founded in 70 years of last century by West Siberian department of the Russian Geographical Society.
This Museum is a great light - grey building in Omsk. Thousands of visitors go to it every year to see the strange and beautiful thing if contains about history of the West Siberia. In othen pants of the museum there are rooms and halls containing things which have been brought from pants all over the Russia . Museum of I.A. has beautiful works of famous Russian and European masters of the past. Gratis collection of bronze and porcelain hand-made goods of Russian, French sox and Chinese works and factories.
In the old city were only 2 libraries. Omsk today has more then, 100 libraries.
The Regional Library of A.S.Pushkin has more then 10000 books and magazines. It has very many books about economics, politics, history, literature. Some of the things which have been dugout in places where old cities once stood by men and women many hundreds of years ago. Today library has 1000 members.
This, the Regional Museum of Local Lore, Museum of Imitative Arts, and The Regional Library of A.S.Pushkin are the most important places of the Omsk with unique prehistoric and art collections.
In the 1st decade of the 20th century the industry of our city began to develop rapidly. Nowadays Omsk is both industrial and educational center of Siberia. Its population is on approximately 1.4 million. About 70 nationalities reside here. Omsk is a rather big city. It stretches more then 40 km on the bank of Irtish. Omsk is one of the Siberian cultural centres.
A sightseeing tour of our city includes visits to places which it would be a pity to miss, for example Omsk Museum of Fine Arts which is a real treasure house of Russia and Soviet painting. Its collection also contains sculptures, antique furniture, jewellery, vases and dishes.
Worth seeing is the Victory Park. We cherish the memory of courageous soldiers who defended our Motherland in the Great Patriotic War. Many street are named after war heroes like Pyotr Ilychev, V.Barkhtova.
Omsk successfully fulfils the functions of a modern city. If you want to keep fit gyms and swimming pools are at your disposal in every neighbourhood. "Krasnaya Zvezda" stadium, as well as huge sport complexes" Zelyony Ostrov" and "Irtysh" host both, sports matches and various concerts and discotheques. They attract crowds of enthusiastic fans and spectators. A considerable number of sportsmen glorified Omsk in international championships. They are Victor Pushnitsa (sambo), Galina Shugurova (callisthenics), Eduard Rapp (cycling), Vladimir Barnashov (biathlon), Andrey Antropov (badminton) and others. Every August Omsk receives participants in Siberian International Marathon.
Omsk is especially attractive in summer. Green parks and public gardens with flowerbeds and fountains serve as islands and recreation zones. From a riverboat you can get a marvellous view of the Irtysh Embankment. One of my favourite places in Omsk is____________ . I lve my city And I want it to become cleaner and more beautiful and preserve its originality.
I hope I have persuaded you to make a journey to my city.