Guiller Hotel (later known as Young Spectators Theatre, Palace of Labor)
The building which occupies the whole block at the Lenin and Karl Marx streets corner, consists of few facilities built in different time. The first one was built in 1860 when Victor Briantsev, a first guild merchant and a city head constructed his living facility here. Siberia Hotel was located here since 1881, then it was renamed to be called Rossiya Hotel. Alexander Razgildeev was an architect. In the period of 1902-1907 architect Alexander Kuznetsov reconstructed this building. Josef Guiller, a bourgeois from Chita, bought the mansion in 1906 making extensions to the existing premises. He rented the place. Tsentral hotel, Modern restaurant and a cinema complex Globus occupied the premises together with some shops and a winter garden. After the Civil War in 1920 Fifth Red Army occupied the building. Their headquarters and political government were situated here. Some famous Soviet war leaders worked here (among them Konstantin Rokossovsky, Ieronim Uborevich and a Czech Communist writer – Yaroslav Gashek). Since 1925 till the present time the second floor of the premises is occupied by so called “Palace of Labor”. It is actually the Irkutsk regional Trade Union. Since 1937 some part of the building along Lenin street was occupied by Irkutsk Young Spectators Theatre. Then it was unsafe to perform in the building so the theatre was transferred to the building of former Musical Comedy Theatre.
Monument to Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
The monument was installed to honor Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) who presided over the Bolsheviks Party and then was the main founder of the USSR. There are a few of the same monuments in Russia, the original one was built in 1940. Its author were Nikolay Tomsky, a USSR sculptor and an architect L. Golubovsky. The bronze figure was cast in Leningrad, at the figure casting plant. The pedestal is made of concrete, lined with slabs of labradorite. The monument was opened on September 23, 1952. The monument was installed at the spot of the Lutheran Church in the name of the ascension. Lutherans were the first foreigners who lived in Irkutsk. In particular, the first Irkutsk Governor (1764-1767) was a Lutheran, his name was Karl L'vovich Frauendorf and he was a Mayor General. The stone church was built in 1885 with the project of Irkutsk architect, baron Henry Rozen, It was closed in 1919 and later a dormitory for the students of Pedagogical University was situated here. Before the monument to Lenin was installed here, the church was dismantled. The monument was installed to honor Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) who presided over the Bolsheviks Party and then was the main founder of the USSR. The monument was opened on September 23, 1952.
Russian- Asian Bank (now a policlinic № 2)
This building is constructed in 1912 with the architectural project of Vadim Kolyanovsky for Irkutsk branch of Russian-Asian bank in art Nouveau style. The southern façade is decorated with two sculptures which symbolize monarchy. There is a bas-relief of Empress Catherine II between them. This bank with the French funds in its capital was the hugest bank with branches in Russia and Asian countries. The bank stopped functioning in 1917. During the Civil War Kolchak Government worked in this building. And when the government was changed, the bank building was occupied by political center of the workers 'and peasants' squad headquarters. During the period of 1920-1930 Labor and Red Army Deputies Council executive committee was situated here. In 1930 the building started serving as a medical facility and later it became a policlinic № 2.
Baikal State University Building (formerly known as Alexander-Mariinsky men’s school of five years)
The building was constructed in 1859 under the project of architect Vladimir Rassushin to serve as a men’s school for 5 years studying. It was named after the 25th anniversary of Emperor Alexander the Third and Maria Fedorovna. In 1933 the building was completely transformed to serve the needs of Siberian University of Economics and Finances which was founded in 1930. The building got two additional floors as an extension. During the Great Civil War surgical hospital № 1476 functioned here from 1941 till 1945. The educational facility had the following changes made: Irkutsk University of Finances and Economics (1939), Irkutsk University of Economics, Irkutsk State Economics Academy , Baikal State University of Economics and Law. Nowadays the institution is known as Baikal State University.
