The history of the city begins with 1879, when near the railway station
Chusovskaya a Russian-French joint-stock company there was laid a metallurgical
factory. Since that time near the factory there are two-storied wooden
“French houses” – memorials of the factory way of life. But long ago
before the foundation of Chusovoy people lived in this region. These
territories had seen a lot. Some findings say that even in the past
times there were links, which connected this edge with the civilizations of the
East. From here started his Siberia trip Yermak Timopheevich.
To acquaint with the cultural-historical legacy of the edge the ethnographic
complex “The Museum of the River Chusovaya’s History” will help. In
this museum under the open air are exported the displays, reproducing
Russian olden times. From different parts of Prikamye here
lordly country shop, theatre-museum of Russian wooden toys, children’s
fair merry-go-round, bucket, mill, well were taken…
In the buildings you can see the things of Russian culture, clothes
and instruments. The museum was organized not according to the rules
of museum style. Here you can touch everything – paunchy two-bucket
samovars, spinning-wheels, kerosene lamps. The spirit of real, native
lives here freely among the old things. In the ethnographic park
you can also order the excursion to the places famous for Yermak trip
and visit the museum of Yermak trip.
Chusovoy also has sad pages in its history. Near it there was one
of the latest political zones of severe regime – camp “Perm-36”, which
appeared in Stalin’s times and where were kept the most “dangerous”
dissident authors and spreaders of anticommunist literature, participants
of remedial groups, religious, national and other organizations. In
1990s on its base the Memorial museum of history of the political repressions
was organized.
On the territory of the former camp remained the unique buildings,
which characterize the epoch of totalitarianism: inhabited barracks,
tight, all the day closed cameras, punishment cell. Walking yards,
upholstered by iron and covered by barbed wire towers were restored.
Chusovoy is famous for one of the best schools of the Olympic reserve
“Ogonyek”. If you go to the base in order not to get medals but to
have a rest, you will not be dismissed. For the guests here is a hotel
complex, the opportunity to feed and to train. At the territory of
the base there is the unique museum of freestyle – probably the only
in the world.
The pride of Chusovoy citizens is the mountain-skiing complex “Takman”,
where in winter time on week-ends population of not only Perm Region,
but Swerdlovsk Region come. But still a real pearl of the city is the
river Chusovaya. With its numerous tributaries it makes huge water
net, which covers the western part of Swerdlovsk Region and the eastern
part of Perm Region. The city of Chusovoy by right is proud of many
famous names. But with the special love the name of Victor Astafyev
is pronounced here. Here there was first attempt at writing of the
young author. Here also was opened the first museum of the writer,
in which his books, letters, private things, pictures are represented.
Moreover, “Astafyev’s readings” which became traditional in the Perm
Region include the visit to Chusovoy, excursion to Astafyev’s places
and the acquaintance with the exhibits of the museum.
