When Kazakhstan became a part of Russian Empire, Nicolay the First gave on order to build a new fortress for protection of the country borders. The general-governor of western Siberia instructed Cossack troops under the direction of Major M.D. Peremishelsky to move to that territory in 1853-1854
The fortress was originally named “Zailiysky”. It was built by Eduard Totleven, the military engineer from Europe, in accordance with the plan of fortification. According to a plan the facility had irregular pentagon form; one side of the fortress was parallel with Small Almaty River (Tatibekov Street). Travelers Shokan Valihanov and Peter Semenov Tyan-Shansky visited Verny in 1856. This expedition became a memorable heritage of the whole epoch. The “parade-ground”, the old bath, the earth mound and 9 wooden buildings of 19th century came down to us.
