Kurgan city received its name after monumental nomad burial places ("kurgans”). Architectural monuments of 19th-20th centuries can be found among the city constructions.

The outlook of Kurgan changed together with political epochs changes. Before the revolution of 1917 Kurgan consisted of wooden houses. After collectivization process started the city grew but prevalence of the so-called "private sector” remained till the 50s of 20th century.

Multistoried buildings started being constructed in Kurgan city when the country restored after the war. First these were 3- and 4-storeyed buildings in the center of the city. It was the time when the ensemble of the Central Square was formed. But the final outlook of the central streets and yards was determined in the 60s-70s. The district Zaozyorny was constructed in this period.

Starting from the end of the 1990s there were 2 tendencies in Kurgan city construction: cottage districts and point construction. 21th century began with the developing of Zaozyorny district (the 4th district began being formed) and multistoried buildings construction - 17-storeyed ones (before that the building of tax police constructed in socialist time had been the only skyscraper in Kurgan city).

In the city there is the exhibition center, Kurgan arts museum, Kurgan aviation museum, several museums linked with the history of the region, among them Kurgan museum of local study, the Decembrists house-museums as well as of poets and fairy-tale tellers.

There is the Puppet show theater "Gulliver”, the regional Drama theater, regional philharmonic society, young spectator theater "Subota” (Saturday).

There are the following educational institutes in the city: Kurgan Agricultural Academy, Kurgan State University, Kurgan International University, Kurgan Military Academy, Kurgan Railroad school Academy.

Kurgan city history

The exact foundation date of Kurgan is unknown. The official foundation date is 1662 and the first name of the settlement - Tsaryovo Gorodishche. In 1738 the settlement received new name - Kurgan Sloboda (Kurganskaya Sloboda). In 1782 the settlement received town status and name Kurgan.

In 1856 the population of Kurgan town was about 3,500. There were two stone churches and seven stone houses. In 1892 the railway was built connecting Kurgan with other parts of Russia.

Kurgan oblast was formed in 1943 and Kurgan city became its administrative center. In 1998 current flag and coat of arms were accepted by Kurgan city administration.