Symbol of Baikonur's space era -
The Monument to the First Cosmonaut of the Planet Yuri Alekseevich Gagarin is one of the key and most recognizable landmarks of the city of Baikonur. The monument is located in the central part of the city, in a square between the House of Communications and the city administration building. Solemnly opened on April 12, 1984, it became a tribute of deep respect to the man who on April 12, 1961, forever changed the history of humanity, opening the way to the stars.
For cosmonauts arriving at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to prepare for manned spaceflights, visiting this place is a kind tradition. The sculpture is executed in an emphasized heroic style, reflecting the spirit of the 1960s era – the monument personifies not only the feat of the pioneer but also the spirit of that time, an era of romance, scientific courage, and boundless faith in progress.
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How to get there and visit -
The Monument to Yuri Gagarin is located in the center of Baikonur, at the intersection of the main walking alleys, not far from the city administration and the central square, Karmakshy district, Kyzylorda region, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS geographical coordinates: 45°37'52"N 63°19'10"E
Visiting the monument is available as part of walking tours around the city for all persons holding a pass to the restricted zone of Baikonur. The site is in public access, and no additional approvals for photography or inspecting the monument are required. Access to the monument does not require special registration or contacts, as it is a public city asset.
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History
The history of the monument is a chronicle of incredible enthusiasm and overcoming obstacles. The idea arose in 1982 at a meeting between the head of the testing ground, Yu. N. Sergunin, and cosmonaut German Stepanovich Titov. To Titov's question about why there was still no worthy monument to Gagarin at the testing ground, the answer followed about a shortage of funds and the need to attract prominent sculptors. However, the task was set, and a competition was announced.
The commission of the USSR Cosmonautics Federation chose a sketch by Junior Sergeant Oleg Pesotsky – an artist who at that time was serving his conscription at the school of junior specialists. His project, created from scratch on his own, turned out to be stronger than the works of professionals. The project was supervised by Lieutenant Colonel V. F. Shapovalov, and unit commander A. V. Usov helped to secure building materials.
The creation of the sculpture took place in the gym of the military unit, where a turntable was installed. The work on the clay model, for which private Igor Filippov posed, was accompanied by dramatic episodes: during the removal of the mold from the head, an accident occurred, because of which part of the monument had to be sculpted anew. As a result, the new head turned out slightly smaller than the original, which changed the overall proportion of the monument. Before the opening, German Titov personally visited Yuri Alekseevich's mother, Anna Timofeevna, to present her with an album containing photos of the monument, and she confirmed the amazing portrait likeness.
Information
The monument is a 6-meter (according to some sources – 4-meter) figure of a cosmonaut with hands stretched upward, which symbols the joy of flight and a greeting to the endless sky. The figure was made by pouring cement into plaster molds followed by careful polishing. Although the author originally planned a composition with flying doves or a globe in hands, due to lack of time and technical difficulties, these ideas had to be abandoned.
A unique feature of the monument is an optical effect: during sunrise or sunset, the sun (and at night – the moon) visually appears right between the hands of the cosmonaut, creating the illusion of holding a celestial body above his head.
Detailed description of the venue
• Sculptural composition: The figure of the cosmonaut, cast of cement and carefully polished, depicting Gagarin with hands raised in greeting.
• Pedestal: A laconic structure, the base of which was supplemented during the installation of the figure fragments.
• Surroundings: A square in the center of the city, which has become an obligatory place of visit for all crews before launch.
Architecture
The author of the monument, Oleg Pesotsky, who had professional practice before the army, created the image of a "live" cosmonaut who stretches his hands to the sky, smiling at the viewer. Remarkably, the orientation of the monument from west to east, which at one time raised questions from the Ministry of Culture, turned out to be extremely successful from an artistic point of view – it allows "meeting" the sun every morning. The monument went through a long path of finishing: workers manually removed seams, cavities, and roughnesses to create a smooth and expressive silhouette that has become a symbol of the city.
Legend
Among the residents of Baikonur, there is a belief that if before an important matter or exam you come to the Gagarin monument and "ask for luck," everything will surely turn out successfully. Young specialists and students of space universities coming for internship consider it their duty to visit this place as a symbol of professional blessing from the "first cosmonaut".
There is also a legend that Gagarin, when visiting the city, left a commemorative signature on one of the sites, which was later "bricked up" into the pedestal of one of the memorials.
Conclusion
The Monument to Yuri Gagarin is not just an object of urban sculpture, it is a place of power of Baikonur. It reminds every visitor that behind the massive launch complexes and powerful rockets stand people with their dreams, courage, and dedication to the cause of exploring the Universe. This is a mandatory point in the tourist itinerary of anyone who wants to understand the soul of this unique "space" city.
Interesting sights nearby:
• Houses of Gagarin and Korolev;
• Baikonur Cosmodrome Museum;
• Gagarin's Start Pad No. 1 and Pad No. 31;
• Buran Spacecraft;
• Yubileyniy Airfield;
• Saturn Radio Complex;
• Energia Command Post;
• Pad No. 110;
• Syr Darya River.
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