Gagarin Square and the Monument to the Conquerors of Space
Gagarin Square in Karaganda was named in September 1963, just two and a half years after Yuri Gagarin’s historic journey as the first human in space.
At its center stands the Monument to the Conquerors of Space, unveiled in 2011. The sculpture impresses with its blend of aluminum, stainless steel, nitrotitanium, granite, and gabbro. The cosmonaut’s face, reminiscent of Gagarin, is in fact a collective image of a human striving for excellence in science, art, and beyond. Behind him, metallic arcs symbolize planetary orbits. Besides, rises a 36-meter spire crowned with a star, bringing the total height of the composition to around 40 meters (131 ft).
The Gagarin Square is surrounded by buildings in the Soviet neoclassical style that preserve the atmosphere of the mid-20th century. Yet the eye inevitably catches the Revenue House (Dohodny Dom) business center at 20 Yerubaev Street. After renovation, its Gothic façade, columns, and antique sculptures turned it into one of the city’s favorite backdrops for photo shoots. 
How to get there?
Gagarin Square is located at the intersection of Abay and Yerubayev Streets. You can get there by buses #28, 43, 44, or minibus #7.
Other tourist attractions near the Gagarin Square:
- Shalkyma Concert Hall
- Abay Monument
- Shakhtyor Stadium
- Saken Seifullin Kazakh Drama Theater
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