Krasnoturinsk

The history of Krasnoturyinsk dates back to the mid-18th century. Its founding date is considered to be 1758, when the development of rich copper ore deposits began on the banks of the Turya River. The project was initiated by the famous Verkhoturye merchant and industrialist Maksim Pokhodyashin. Originally, the settlement was named Turinsky Mines and consisted of a group of mining villages established around the shafts.

The development of the future city was shaped by the unique mining and factory civilization of the Urals. The depths of the Northern Urals hid vast reserves of high-quality copper ore, making this area strategically important for Russian metallurgy. The mines served as the raw material base for the neighboring Bogoslovsky Copper Smelter, creating a stable economic ecosystem. Its location in the foothills of the Urals provided the necessary conditions for mining operations, though the harsh climate required significant resilience from the early settlers.

During the pre-revolutionary period, the settlement's economy was focused entirely on copper mining, forming a specific lifestyle characteristic of Ural artisans. Despite its industrial nature, Turinsky Mines became an important cultural landmark: it was here that the great Russian physicist and radio inventor Alexander Popov was born and spent his childhood. Later, in 1944, following the discovery of bauxite deposits and the construction of an aluminum plant, the workers' settlement was granted city status and given its modern name—Krasnoturyinsk.

• 1758 — Foundation of the Turinsky Mines settlement by merchant Maksim Pokhodyashin to develop rich copper deposits.
• 1859 — Birth of Alexander Stepanovich Popov, the great Russian physicist and inventor of the radio, in the settlement.
• 1894 — Opening of the Turinsky Mining School, which became a center for training skilled personnel for the Ural industry.
• 1931 — Geologist Nikolay Karzhavin discovers the unique "Krasnaya Shapochka" bauxite deposit, fundamentally changing the region's destiny.
• 1940 — The decision is made to build the Bogoslovsky Aluminum Plant, which became the city's main enterprise.
• 1944 — By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, the workers' settlement of Turinsky Mines is transformed into the city of Krasnoturyinsk.
• 1945 — The first aluminum is produced at the Bogoslovsky Aluminum Plant, marking the start of large-scale metallurgy in the city.
• 1954 — The tram system is launched, becoming a vital part of the city's transport infrastructure.
• 1956 — A memorial museum dedicated to radio inventor A. S. Popov opens in the historical home of the priest Stepan Popov's family.
• 1959 — The Palace of Culture of Metallurgists is commissioned, serving as a striking example of the architecture of that era.
• 2016 — The Russian Government issues a decree establishing a Territory of Advanced Social and Economic Development in Krasnoturyinsk.

Key Milestones in Krasnoturyinsk's Development

The city's evolution is inextricably linked to industrial cycles and large-scale urban planning decisions. Several fundamental stages have shaped the modern appearance and character of Krasnoturyinsk.

• The Era of Copper Mines (18th–19th centuries)

  The first stage of development laid the foundation for the regional mining and factory culture. Copper extraction at the Vasilyevsky and other mines determined the initial layout of the settlement and attracted the first mining specialists. It was during this period that a distinct class of Ural artisans was formed, whose traditions endure to this day.

• Discovery of Bauxite and the "Second Birth" (1930s)

  When copper reserves were depleted, the settlement faced decline. The discovery of the "Krasnaya Shapochka" (Little Red Riding Hood) bauxite deposit by Nikolay Karzhavin was a turning point. This event not only saved the settlement but also reoriented the regional economy toward the strategically important aluminum industry.

• Construction of the Aluminum Giant (1940s)

  The construction of the Bogoslovsky Aluminum Plant (BAZ) during the 1940s became a powerful driver of growth. The plant required a massive workforce, energy, and infrastructure. Thanks to BAZ, the workers' settlement rapidly transformed into a full-fledged city with a developed social sphere.

• The "Little Leningrad" Architectural Project (1940s–1950s)

  A unique feature of Krasnoturyinsk is its central district. Designed by Leningrad architects, it gave the Ural city a metropolitan flair. The central square ensemble, with its arc-shaped buildings and wide avenues, sets the city apart from the typical industrial centers of that time.

• Formation of Urban Infrastructure (1950s–1960s)

  During this period, the city acquired key elements of a comfortable environment: the tram network was launched (a rarity for cities of this size), the monumental Palace of Culture of Metallurgists was built, and the city pond embankment was created. These sites remain the city's hallmarks today.

• Modern Diversification (21st century)

  Gaining the status of a Territory of Advanced Social and Economic Development marked a new chapter. The city strives to diversify its economy by developing the Bogoslovsky Industrial Park and attracting investors to sectors not directly related to metallurgy.

Architectural Identity: "Little Leningrad" in the Urals

Krasnoturyinsk represents an urban planning phenomenon unique to the Northern Urals. The city is often called "Little Leningrad" because its general plan and central ensemble were designed by Leningrad architects in the 1940s. This gave the industrial center a metropolitan austerity, geometric precision, and harmony of proportions rarely found in the workers' towns of that era.

Main Architectural Styles and Eras

The development of Krasnoturyinsk clearly reflects the stages of its evolution—from a mining settlement to a major industrial hub.

• Traditional Wooden Architecture (19th century)

  A legacy of the Turinsky Mines era, this style is represented by one-story wooden houses typical of the mining and factory way of life. The style is characterized by simple forms, log construction, and decorative carvings on the window frames.

  Iconic landmark: The A. S. Popov House Museum—a historical mid-19th-century estate that preserves the atmosphere of the clergyman’s home where the inventor of the radio was born.

• Soviet Neoclassicism and Stalinist Empire Style (1940s–1950s)

  The dominant style of the historical center, characterized by monumentality, symmetry, the use of classical orders (columns, pilasters), stucco work, and ensemble planning. It was this period that shaped the city's recognizable "face."

  Iconic landmarks:

  • Central Square—the city's architectural centerpiece.
  • Arc-shaped residential buildings that frame the square, reminiscent of the General Staff Building in Saint Petersburg.
  • The Palace of Culture of Metallurgists (BAZ)—a majestic building with a classical portico and colonnade, considered one of the finest examples of palace architecture in the Urals.
• Industrial Eclecticism (early 20th century – present)

  Industrial structures that have become an integral part of the urban landscape, combining utility with expressive brickwork.

  Iconic landmark: The Water Tower—an expressive red-brick structure that has become one of the city's unofficial symbols.

• Soviet Modernism and Functionalism (1960s–1980s)

  A period of mass residential construction where architecture became more concise and focused on function. This era saw the emergence of neighborhoods with standard panel and brick buildings ("Khrushchevkas" and "Brezhnevkas"), wide courtyards, and developed social infrastructure such as schools and kindergartens within the residential blocks.

Prominent Figures of Krasnoturyinsk

The history of the city (formerly known as Turinsky Mines) is closely intertwined with the lives of people whose achievements have gained recognition not only in Russia but throughout the world. Scientists and pioneers brought particular fame to these lands.

• Maksim Mikhailovich Pokhodyashin (1708–1781)
  Verkhoturye merchant, industrialist, and settlement founder

  A key figure in the history of the Northern Urals. In 1758, he began developing copper deposits on the banks of the Turya River, founding the settlement of Turinsky Mines. His entrepreneurial spirit laid the foundation for the mining civilization in this rugged region.

• Alexander Stepanovich Popov (1859–1906)
  Physicist, electrical engineer, and inventor of the radio

  The city's most famous native, born into the family of a local priest. His scientific experiments led to the creation of the world's first wireless communication system. The house where he spent his childhood has been preserved in Krasnoturyinsk and now serves as a memorial museum.

• Alexander Petrovich Karpinsky (1847–1936)
  Geologist, paleontologist, and the first elected president of the Russian Academy of Sciences

  Born in Turinsky Mines to a mining engineer's family, he became a distinguished scientist known as the "father of Russian geology." In 1917, he became the first elected president of the Russian Academy of Sciences. His work on the geological mapping of the Urals is of fundamental importance to science.

• Evgraf Stepanovich Fyodorov (1853–1919)
  Crystallographer, mineralogist, and mathematician

  Working as a mining engineer at Turinsky Mines in the late 19th century, he not only practiced geology but also made breakthroughs in theoretical science by developing the classification of crystal space groups. He founded a geological museum in the settlement, which now bears his name.

• Nikolay Mikhailovich Karzhavin (1899–1974)
  Geologist and USSR State Prize laureate

  The man who gave the city a "second life." In the early 1930s, he discovered the unique "Krasnaya Shapochka" bauxite deposit. This discovery paved the way for the aluminum industry in the Urals and transformed the old mining settlement into the modern industrial city of Krasnoturyinsk.

• Anatoly Konstantinovich Serov (1910–1939)
  Fighter pilot, Combrig, and Hero of the Soviet Union

  Born in the village of Vorontsovka (now part of the Krasnoturyinsk urban district), he was a renowned Soviet ace. Considered one of the most talented pilots of his time, he headed the Main Flight Inspection of the Air Force.