The Shevelyov House connects a specific place in Naryan-Mar with the history of Pustozersk: it stands in the city center at 4 Tyko-Vylki Street, was built in Pustozersk between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and today houses the “Pustozersk” Museum Reserve. Visitors who choose Naryan-Mar for its history will encounter different areas of focus: the museum, wooden architecture, and the city’s memorial sites.

The Shevelyov House and the History of Pustozersk

The introductory tour of the Shevelyov House takes visitors through the permanent and temporary exhibitions. It explores how and why houses from Pustozersk came to Naryan-Mar, traces the way of life of the Russian population along the Pechora River from their arrival in the 11th century and settlement in the 16th century, and examines the origins of the first Russian city in the Arctic through archaeological finds. In this way, the tour brings together the history of the house, everyday life, and archaeological themes. If you are particularly interested in these connections, the museum can be a thematic focus of your trip. Before making plans, confirm with the museum whether the tour is available on your dates.

Wooden Buildings and Religious Architecture

The wooden main post office and the administrative building of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug stand on Smidovich Street. Both were built in the early 20th century and are historical and architectural monuments of regional significance. Smidovich Street is one of the old main streets in the city center; part of it was converted into a pedestrian zone in the early 21st century. The Alley of Glory is also a pedestrian zone: it runs along Pobedy Street and borders Smidovich Street. The central square “Marad Sei” means “Heart of the City” and also borders this street.

The wooden Pomor Old Believer church complex in Naryan-Mar includes the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and a chapel dedicated to Archpriest Avvakum. This is distinct from the also-wooden church complex of the Naryan-Mar and Mezen Diocese near Lenin Square. It comprises the Epiphany Church, a bell tower, and a Sunday school building. The two ensembles represent different religious affiliations and offer complementary perspectives on the city’s wooden architecture.

Memorial Sites in the Cityscape

The Alley of Glory is home to a Victory obelisk with an Eternal Flame, a monument to war veterans and participants in local wars and armed conflicts, and a monument commemorating the contribution of the reindeer transport battalions during the Great Patriotic War of 1941–1945. Another monument commemorates the Naryan-Mar port workers who fell in the war. It was erected in 1980 in a small park in the historic part of the city near the seaport. The alley brings together several memorials with different military associations, while the monument near the seaport focuses on a clearly identified group and its location.

City Tours and Getting Oriented

The museum describes a walking city tour as an informative stroll through the center of Naryan-Mar. It also describes a bus tour that provides an overview of the city and its history. The two formats have different focuses: the walk centers on downtown, while the bus tour provides a broader overview. Before making plans, check with the museum whether the tours are available on your dates.

Discover more destinations: Noyabrsk, Novy Urengoy, Salekhard, Muravlenko, Gubkinsky, Urengoy, Tarko-Sale, Tazovsky

For the broader travel overview: Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.