Lenin Garden, Ufa


Lenin Gardens was one of the first urban public parks in Ufa, Russia. The park is located in the city center, near the Belaya river and facing Governor's House, currently the home of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bashkortostan; Republic House, the Bashkortostan seat of government; and the Bashkir Academic Drama Theater Mazhit Gafuri. In May 2022, the city began consideration of restoring the park's original name, Ushakovsky Park.

History

The park was formally established on by decree of Tsar Alexander II. It was named in honor of Ufa Governate governor. The governor's residence overlooked a livestock pasture and in 1867 Ushakov ordered that a park be laid out on the site instead. Initially, the park was open only to local nobility; a sign at the gate barred "lower ranks and dogs" from entering.
Over the years, the park's name has changed several times.
1867–1917 Ushakovsky Park
1917–1945 Garden of Freedom
1945–1980 Alexander Matrosov Central Park of Culture and Recreation
  • In 1951, a monument honoring Soviet war hero Alexander Matrosov was erected in the park, which had been renamed in his honor. The statute was relocated in 1981 when the park was renovated, but returned in 1989.
'''1980–now V.I. Lenin Gardens '''