The decision to open the memorial complex was accepted in 2005 by initiation of the Head of the North Kazakhstan region, and with support of the President of Kazakhstan. Nursultan Nazarbayev familiarized with archival and historical materials, and then he noted that the restoration of this historic building would be an important event in the conservation and study of the cultural heritage.
Abylay (Abylmansur), Khan of Kazakh Horde, was one of the greatest statesmen in the history of Kazakhstan. Ancestors of Abylay khan descended from the founder of the Kazakh Horde Az-Zhanibek, who was a descendant of Zhoshy Khan, son of Genghis Khan. He was a great politician, diplomat and talented commander. Khans, sultans and warriors of three zhuzes united into one khanate and proclaimed Abylay Khan as a khan of Kazakh Khanate in Turkestan, 1771.
Abylay Khan was a major figure among all neighboring countries including Russia in the middle of the XVIII century, which determined by their relationship with the Kazakh Khanate. Rulers of China recognized him as a khan of all Kazakhs.
Residence of Abylay khan is located in Petropavlovsk, North Kazakhstan region, which is also called as a "White House." Archival documents confirm the construction of the residence of Abylay in autumn, 1765.
Great Khan holds a special place in the history of Kazakhstan. He devoted his life to create and protect the Kazakh state. Lack of other historical monuments in Kazakhstan, which is associated with the name of the Great Khan, adds the "White House of Abylay" to the list of unique historical constructions.
Several generations of historians and ethnographers have searched for documents that would have confirmed the historical fact about the construction of the Kazakh Khan residence. Confirmation of archival documents of the construction of Abylay residence (autumn, 1765) is a sample of events reconstruction, which has a particular importance for reconstructing an objective history of Kazakhstan. Important documents had been received from the Russian Foreign Ministry archives with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Russia on November 2003. In particular, the order of the Chancellor M.Vorontsov from 21 March 1762 to the Senate and colleagues of Foreign Affairs referred to the direction of the Siberian and Orenburg governors and the decree about the construction for Abylay "buildings are not in range of the local boundaries".
The valuable was "To inform the Foreign Affairs of the Omsk fortress and the general-lieutenant Springer about the wooden house construction of kirgis-kaisak by owner Abylay Saltan", dated 25 October 1765. It was attached to the document "Plan of newly built Kirgis-Kaisak Middle Horde of Ablay Saltan house. And what exactly is listed under the sim: 1 Rooms of Abylay Saltan. 2 Offices. 3 Bathhouse. 4 House for coming kirgis-Kaisak elders to Abylay Saltan".
In modern parlance, it was about the fact of the whole construction of the complex - residence for the governor of the steppe.
Due to historical documents, they were found in archives of the foreign policy of the Russian Empire (Moscow), St. Petersburg, Omsk and Orenburg state archives, all stages of construction were clearly seen by decision before the end of the work. They also included a plan of the construction and some characteristics of buildings.
According to existing plans and drawings, scientists- historians and restorers had tried to restore the image of the Great Khan’s residence, exterior architectural appearance and interior decoration of the building.
Today, the memorial complex "Residence of Abylay Khan" is a historical building, which includes the office, chambers of the Khan and guesthouse. "The White House of Abylay" is a museum, which tells about the life and work of the great khan. Visitors can be acquainted with the documents, which relate to Abylay khan time, and give an imagination of public activities in order to preserve the independence and territorial integrity of the Kazakh land. The memorial complex "Residence of Abylay Khan" will be added to the state register of monuments in Kazakhstan.
Monument to Abay and Pushkin is one of great examples of modern sculpture. It symbolized the century-old friendship between Russians and Kazakhs. The monument was set on December 16, 2006 in honor of Abay’s year and Pushkin’s year in Kazakhstan in the center of Petropavlosk in North-Kazakhstan region.
Petropavlovsk is one of the first cities in Kazakhstan, which had a theatrical life. The first mention and separate report about the theatrical culture belongs to the 60-s of the 19th century. However, the true and documented history of Petropavlovsk scene had started in winter of 1886-1887 years.