Yo-monument in Ulyanovsk

The Yo-monument is a granite memorial near the Lenin Regional Scientific Library in Ulyanovsk. The engraved Cyrillic letter weighs over three tons and reproduces the typographic form seen in early printed books.

The idea arose in 2001 to mark over two centuries since the character entered written Russian. Alexander Zinin finished the final design in November 2005.

The memorial celebrates a character in the Russian alphabet that carries its own distinct sound but often disappears from print. The two dots above the E change pronunciation completely and mark this letter as something readers notice when it appears.

The monument sits on Novy Venets Boulevard and can be reached by level paths. The site works well for photography and stands near the library building.

The letter follows the exact typeface from an 1797 almanac where the word for tears appeared in print. This typographic precision turns the stone into a replica of early printing craft.

Location: Ulyanovsk

Height: 2.05 m

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

GPS coordinates: 54.31582,48.40616

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30