The monument "First Settler" is one of the main attractions of Penza, which has become a kind of calling card for the regional center. The image of the first settler is often found on souvenirs, in various thematic magazines and albums. At the regional level, the monument is an object of cultural heritage.
It turns out that the place for the sculptural group was not immediately chosen, and its creators risked a negative attitude of state authorities.
Description of the monument "First Settler" in Penza
year to protect the borders of the Russian kingdom in the southeast from attacks by aggressive steppe nomadic tribes.
The bronze sculptural composition consists of figures of a man and a horse. The mighty first settler personifies two entities - the military (strong defender) and the peasant (plowman-farmer). In one hand, a man holds a sharp spear, and the other touches the plow. A faithful horse can also serve both for military purposes and for peaceful purposes - for plowing a field.
On a round granite pedestal installed on a two-meter man-made mound, there is an inscription from the decree on the foundation of the fortress: “In summer 7171–1663, the city was ordered to be built on the Penza River”.
Monument "First Settler": history
The initiative to create the memorial belongs to G.V. Myasnikov, who was at that time in Penza the second secretary of the CPSU regional committee and did a lot for the city and the region. Initially, the sketch depicted the Volga and Mikula group, from which there remained only a peasant with a plow, spear and horse. The party leader liked the idea of personifying the two principles in the fate of the first inhabitants of the Penza lands of the XVII century - the warrior and the farmer.
The author of the monument is Leningrad sculptor Valentin Kozenyuk, who worked on its creation since 1977, and the architect is Yuri Komarov. The sculptural composition was cast at the enterprise Penztyazhpromarmatura.
The monument "First Settler" was unveiled on September 8, 1980. On this day, six hundred years ago, the Battle of Kulikovo took place - a landmark battle that put an end to the centuries-old Mongol-Tatar yoke on Russian soil.
Memorial complex and monument "First Settler", Penza
The address where you can find a city attraction is Kirova street, next to house 11. The place for the monument was not chosen by chance. On the opposite side of the street is the surviving part of the earthen defensive rampart. An antique-style palisade was built on it, and a wooden belfry with a memorial plaque was installed on the site of the fortress corner tower. Authentic cast-iron bell and mortar mounted on the belfry were provided by the local history museum. So a single memorial complex was created .
From the observation deck, next to which is the monument "First Settler" (Penza), a magnificent view of the city blocks in the Sura valley. On the cast-iron fence of the site are bas-reliefs depicting the coat of arms of Penza.
Interesting Facts
Initially, the “First Settler” monument was planned to be installed in a completely different place - on the outskirts of the city, in the forest near the “Zaseka” cafe. In the process of casting the sculpture, it became apparent that the monumental composition would look much better in the historical center of the city.
When the site for the monument was being built, the demolition of the postmaster, who was nearby, was discussed. As a result, only a fence was demolished, and in the surviving house a Museum of one painting was subsequently opened, analogues of which do not exist in the country and the world.
The initiators of its creation could have problems with the installation of the monument, since the sculpture of the pre-revolutionary warrior-plowman did not belong to the category of traditional monuments of the Soviet era. Then, memorials dedicated to Soviet political figures and the memory of those killed in the Great Patriotic War were welcomed.
In 1980, the Summer Olympic Games were held in the Soviet Union, so the allocation of funds for the opening of the memorial was a violation of the government’s intention to spend money only on preparing for competitions. Therefore, the creators of the monument risked anger of the current authorities.
Despite obstacles and possible undesirable consequences, the monument “First Settler” was erected and solemnly opened and for several decades has been one of the most significant and recognizable symbols of the city of Penza.