Monument to Valery Chkalov

The prospect of Sovetskaya Street in Orenburg is completed by the monument to Valery Chkalov, installed on the city embankment. The decision to install a monument to the famous Soviet pilot in the city was made after his tragic death in 1938, in connection with which the city of Orenburg itself was renamed Chkalov. However, at that time these plans were not implemented.

The monument was erected in 1953, timed its opening to celebrate the thirty-sixth anniversary of the October Revolution. The monument was made by the Moscow sculptor Mendelevich. There is a legend, according to which the monument was originally supposed to be installed in the capital on the square near the Kursk station. However, when the project of the monument was shown to Stalin, he said that he personally knew Valery Chkalov and the sculpture does not look like him. After that, the monument was sent to Orenburg.

Today, a massive bronze figure of Chkalov, rises on a high granite pedestal, behind the monument's back a staircase to the Ural River. Interestingly, Chkalov himself has never been to Orenburg.