Monument "First Settler" - one of the main attractions of Penza, which has become a kind of visiting 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 chosen immediately, and its creators risked facing the negative attitude of the state authorities.
Description of the monument "First Settler" in Penza
The bronze sculptural composition consists of figures of a man and a horse. The mighty first settler personifies two essences - military (strong defender) and peasant (plowman-farmer). In one hand the man holds a sharp spear and the other touches the plow. A faithful horse can also serve as a militarypurposes, and for peaceful purposes - for plowing the field.
On a round granite pedestal, mounted on a two-meter man-made mound, there is an inscription from the decree on the founding of the fortress: "Summer 7171 - 1663 - it was ordered to build a city on the Penza River."
Monument "First Settler": history
The initiative to create the memorial belongs to G. V. Myasnikov, who at that time was the second secretary of the regional committee of the CPSU in Penza and did a lot for the city and the region. Initially, the sketch depicted the Volga and Mikula group, of which only a peasant with a plow, spear and horse remained. The party leader liked the idea of personifying two principles in the fate of the first inhabitants of the Penza lands of the 17th century - a warrior and a plowman.
The author of the monument is the Leningrad sculptor Valentin Kozenyuk, who has been working on its creation since 1977, and the architect is Yuri Komarov. The sculptural composition was cast at the Penztyazhpromarmatura enterprise.
The monument "First Settler" was opened on September 8, 1980. On this day, six hundred years ago, the Battle of Kulikovo took place - an epoch-making 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 the city landmark is Kirov Street, next to house 11. The place for the monument was not chosen by chance. On the opposite side of the street there is a preserved part of the earthen defensive rampart. A palisade, stylized as an antique, was built on it, and on the site of the fortress corner towera wooden belfry with a memorial plaque was installed. The original bell and mortar made of cast iron, installed on the belfry, were provided by the local history museum. Thus, 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 opens. There are bas-reliefs depicting the coat of arms of Penza on the cast-iron fence of the site.
Interesting facts
Initially, it was planned to install the monument to the "First Settler" in a completely different place - on the outskirts of the city, in a forest near the "Zaseka" cafe. In the process of casting the sculpture, it became obvious that the monumental composition would look much better in the historical center of the city.
When the site for the monument was being set up, the demolition of the nearby postmaster's house was discussed. As a result, only the fence was demolished, and the Museum of one painting was subsequently opened in the surviving house, which has no analogues in the country and the world.
With the installation of the monument, the initiators of its creation could have problems, since the sculpture of a pre-revolutionary farmer warrior 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 who died in the Great Patriotic War were welcomed.
In 1980, the Soviet Union hosted the Summer Olympic Games, so the allocation of funds for the opening of the memorial was a violation of the government policy to spend money only on preparations forcompetitions. Therefore, the creators of the monument risked the wrath of the current authorities.
Despite the obstacles and possible undesirable consequences, the monument to the "First Settler" was erected and inaugurated and has been one of the most significant and recognizable symbols of the city of Penza for several decades.
