Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Official website of the State –
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On October 22, 1990, Nizhny Novgorod was restored to its historical name. Why was the city renamed in the first place, and what did the great writer Maxim Gorky think about it?
The merchant capital celebrated by Ostrovsky's genius was founded in 1221 at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers by Prince Yuri (George) Vsevolodovich as a stronghold for defending the Russian borders from the Mordvins, Cheremis, and Tatars. Historians believe the city was named Nizhny due to its location in the "lower" lands relative to Novgorod the Great.
Impregnable fortress
For many decades, beginning in the late 15th century, Nizhny Novgorod was a reliable stronghold of Moscow in its struggle for the great river route. During this time, a stone Kremlin was built here, from whose walls, in the winter of 1612, a militia led by Kozma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky set out to fight the Polish-Lithuanian invaders. The city's calling card is Strelka, the confluence of the Oka and Volga rivers. In the Middle Ages, this was the center of the Strelitsky camp, hence the name.
From all over the country, goods were delivered here by watercraft to the famous Novgorod Fair, also known as the "pocket of Russia." The largest commodity trades were held here, and the Gostiny Dvor (trading yard) housed over 2,500 shops. It is no surprise that in the 18th century, Nizhny Novgorod became an important administrative center: from 1714, it became the provincial center, and from 1779 to 1796, it was the center of the entire Nizhny Novgorod Viceroyalty.
To the writer – from the people
In 1932, the entire Soviet Union celebrated the 40th anniversary of the creative work of the first proletarian writer, Maxim Gorky, who was born in Nizhny Novgorod and spent his difficult youth there. He later recounted this period in the first two parts of his autobiographical trilogy, "Childhood. Among People. My Universities."
For his literary services to the working class and workers, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR decided to award the writer the Order of Lenin and name a central Moscow street after him, establish 100 named prizes, create postage stamps, etc.
The people didn't remain on the sidelines: on August 26, 1932, at a ceremonial joint plenum of the regional committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), the executive committee, the city party committee, and the Soviet, worker Ovsyannikov proposed naming Nizhny Novgorod after his fellow countryman. Factory workers who spoke next supported the idea.
Less than two weeks had passed before the Central Executive Committee of the USSR granted the request of the plenum participants: on October 7, 1932, Nizhny Novgorod became Gorky.
It's worth noting that the writer himself wasn't pleased with this honor. In a letter to Fyodor Khitrovsky, a Nizhny Novgorod journalist and local historian, Maxim Gorky wrote on February 19, 1933, from Sorrento: "Today, for the first time, I wrote Gorky on an envelope instead of Nizhny Novgorod. It's very awkward and unpleasant."
Back to the roots
The question of restoring the historical name arose in the 1950s, when Nikita Khrushchev, arriving in Gorky, called its residents Nizhny Novgorodians.
In July 1987, at the 5th All-Russian Congress of the Society for the Preservation of Historical and Cultural Monuments, artist Israel Ashkenazi proposed that Gorky delegates support an initiative to return the Volga pearl to its former name. However, in December of that year, the City Council of People's Deputies adopted a resolution to retain the Soviet name. However, a decision was later made to appeal to the authorities for a renaming. Ultimately, on October 22, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR approved the return of Nizhny Novgorod from temporary oblivion.
New Time
Another famous native of Nizhny Novgorod is the ace pilot Valery Chkalov. Near the Strelka stands a monumental staircase named after Chkalov, a hero of the Strelka. Its observation decks offer majestic views of the Oka and Volga rivers. The 560 steps, 150 meters long, and unique figure-eight design lend the memorial staircase a solemn air—the steps were built in honor of the defenders of Stalingrad.
The longest aerial tramway in Europe has also been built here—over 3,600 meters, including 861 meters directly over Russia's main river. This isn't just a tourist attraction, but a fully-fledged public transportation system connecting the city with its satellite town, Bor. Before the air route, the journey took over 40 minutes by commuter train; now, the journey takes just 12.5 minutes. Thus, Nizhny Novgorod continues to develop, carefully preserving its centuries-old history—both in its name and in stone.
Subscribe to the "Our GUU" Telegram channel. Publication date: October 22, 2025.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.