widow jane distillery tour

Widow Jane Distillery

Review Highlights

“ The whiskey is one of the best I have ever tasted, the chocolate is delicious and compliments the whiskey greatly. ” in 14 reviews

“ She was very knowledgeable regarding the whole process of how they create their delicious bourbon . ” in 12 reviews

“ We were able to even switch tours at the last minute due to traffic and Emma was super great about it! ” in 4 reviews

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218 Conover St

Red Hook, NY 11231

Dikeman St & Van Dyke St

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About the Business

Non-GMO Small Batch Bourbon Distllery, with informative tours and delicious tasting flights. …

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I have ventured here a couple of summers ago and there was a chocolatier on one side and a cigar shop on the other. Are they still there?

Hi Amanda, We are still the two companies, Widow Jane and Cacao Prieto, the chocolate factory. Unfortunately, the cigar shop is no longer here. Hope to see you again soon!

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Informative distillery tour and great tasting bourbon! Post the tour, enjoyed a bourbon flight and some apps

What an awesome time we had!!!! First of all, I had to reschedule the tour a few times, and they were extremely accommodating and very nice about it! So that was extremely appreciated! We were able to even switch tours at the last minute due to traffic and Emma was super great about it! She also very very knowledgeable and informative as our tour guide! The tasting was great and the gift and treat at the end was a great final touch to a an awesome time! Took hubby for Father's Day (originally was for his birthday) and he enjoyed himself and took a couple of very nice bottles home!

See all photos from Carol M. for Widow Jane Distillery

I can't say I am into whiskey, but this tasting room was beautiful. The good news is they have a selection of all types of cocktails here, not just whiskey. And with their big open window/doors this was a perfect way to spend a 65 degree afternoon in the spring.

Respect to the employees of WJ for their hard work and production of an amazing product. We had the opportunity to take a tour of WJ distillery and were very pleased with our visit. Emma, our tour guide, was great! She was very knowledgeable, friendly, and took pride in making our visit special. After learning about the nuances/challenges of operating the distillery in the City, a new level of respect toward the bourbon, which I was already a huge fan of, and the 20 employees who make the company emerged. To start the tour we had a taste of an aged cocktail called Barrel Kicker, which was delicious. At the conclusion of the tour we sampled several of their bourbons. Overall favorites are the 10 year anniversary, Decadence, and the Rye! The chocolate bourbon truffle at the end really hit the spot! Unfortunately the cocktail bar attached to the Distillery wasn't open when we visited, but this gives us an excuse to return in the future!

I was introduced to Widow Jane a few years ago by my nephew . I was excited when I found that the Distillery offers tours and we took him there as a birthday celebration . The Ambiance of the bar was very chill. We enjoyed it pre-tour and had to go back after as well . The staff was very friendly and the drinks were amazing ! The tour was very informative and the woman presenting was very bubbly and fun to be with . We all had a wonderful time. I hear they're celebrating their anniversary this coming October ,hoping to make the trek back to join the celebration.( Coming from PA , NY,NJ and CT.) Well worth the trip.

Went on a whiskey tour today. It is a little over an hour with actually viewing the direct distillery and operational equipment. It ends with a tasting of several whiskies and a souvenir glass. Very informative and very cool. A must if you like to learn about whiskey or love the willow Jane brand! Leo our tour guide was amazing and made the tour perfect!

See all photos from Denny J. for Widow Jane Distillery

I love this bar! Don't come here expecting a rowdy night out. If a candle lit bar with quality cocktails is your vibe, you will adore this neighborhood spot. Of course, bourbon is what they mostly serve up, but if that's not your drink of choice they have some awesome other liquors to choose from. My partner's go to is to tequila on the rocks, and they had some great options for him.

Spent a rainy Saturday afternoon enjoying some flights of Whiskey. Would recommend pre-booking the tour that started with a Manhattan and was very informative. They took us to their nearby warehouse and we could try some cocktails and flights at their bar next door. Glad we could try and buy some of their anniversary editions!

Flight tasting

A fascinating story about the origin of the name. And a very enjoyable tour and tasting with staff who are clearly passionate about their distillery. We topped it off with a handcrafted cocktail at the adjoining bar. All in all, a very worthwhile experience.

Duuuuude...so I fell in like with Widow Jane bourbon not too long ago...allow me to pontificate. What had happened was that about three months ago (from the writing of this 5 star review btw) I was at a local liquor spot purchasing a bottle to add to the collection, when I was being helped by a well-versed shop attendant who, while in conversation, recommended the 10 year...I was intrigued. Then, I decided to try their lucky 13 and it was then I realized I was more than "In Like". While having the recent opportunity to visit the great NYC again, I knew my trip would not be complete if I didn't partake in a tour of this magnificent craft distillery. I'll fast forward to say it did not disappoint. Learning about its history and having a tasting was sublime. Our hostess, Emma, was great. And we had an opportunity to do a full tasting in their bar next door. That's where I had the opportunity to try the Vault 15 year - outstanding, and I was ecstatic that I got to pick up a bottle of their 2021 batch - which will live in my collection unopened until just the right occasion. Overall - Widow Jane impressed me all the way from Orlando, FL.; And learning how they work their craft to produce such a high quality bourbon has been amazing. If you're a bourbon aficionado and you haven't tried this phenomenal libation..well you just haven't lived and perhaps your right to vote should be revoked. Keep, keeping it real WJ. I'll be back. Until then I'll enjoy your nectar of the Gods from afar. Sincerely, Your fav fan...

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Widow Jane Distillery – Head Distiller and General Manager Lisa Roper Wicker, Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York

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Widow Jane scours the country for the finest barrels of Straight Bourbon & Rye Whiskeys. Hand assembled right here in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, we bring these to you with non-chill filtration and proofed with a hard-yet-sweet pure limestone water from the Legendary Rosendale Mines of Upstate New York.

We also distill every week in Red Hook using the finest non-GMO ingredients, including corn varietals such as Baby Jane that are unique to us and that we have nurtured over many years.

our spirits

One hundred miles north of our distillery in Brooklyn lies Rosendale – the origin of the pure limestone water used to proof all of Widow Jane’s whiskeys. Rosendale’s legendary mines include the Widow Jane Mine, now a historical site maintained by the Century House Historical Society and the inspiration for our name. We are extremely proud to partner with the Century House Historical Society who guard and promote the foundational history of the Mines and town of Rosendale. Let’s step back in time.

In 1830, commercial mining began in New York’s Hudson Valley region, where the town of Rosendale sits. By 1840, Rosendale had 13 cement companies operating 16 sites collectively producing 600,000 barrels of cement annually. By 1891, half of the cement used in North America was Rosendale cement. Millions of barrels of cement made their way to market via the transportation links provided by the D&H Canal, river, & railroad. By the end of the 19th century, the superior quality of Rosendale cement was known worldwide and was actively used in the construction of some of America’s most enduring landmarks. Everything from the Brooklyn Bridge, the Washington Monument and Grand Central Terminal used Rosendale cement and all in all thousands of important public works and private projects all got their start underground in the limestone mines of Rosendale. Rosendale cement was the foundational building block of the 19th century and the wonder material of its age.

The Rosendale mines are part of a 32-square-mile shelf of limestone that sits between the towns of High Falls and Kingston, in Upstate NY. A place called Joppenbergh Mountain became the epicenter of the local mining industry, as the quality of its limestone was ideal for being ground into cement. The limestone found here is so tough in fact that the core of Iron Mountain’s essentially bomb proof site near Joppenbergh Mountain in the Beach Mine, and for that reason, originals and contemporary copies of the world’s most historical documents, such as the Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence, are stored here in these natural vaults.

Today the Widow Jane Mine provides an exciting venue for historic interpretations and special events and the mines form an amazing natural amphitheater in which many musicians have performed and recorded, taking advantage of the unique acoustics.

The history found in and around these Mines is remarkable. We, and our whiskey, are grateful for the historic site and the pure sweet water it now contains. In a sealed section of a nearby mine’s caverns, not far from the Widow Jane Mine, we regularly harvest the water and use it to proof all of our whiskeys. It is this hard-yet-sweet water that makes our whiskey special….. perhaps even “history in a glass.”

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Widow Jane Distillery

Address:  214 Conover St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 Phone: (718) 407-4927 Email: [email protected]

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Best distilleries to visit in New York

As Manhattan's first distillery since Prohibition opens to the public, Vicki Denig takes a look at the city’s distilling scene and recommends four other NY-based distilleries to visit. 

America’s craft spirits industry is booming – and New York is home to one of its fastest-growing markets. Featuring over 160 craft distilleries, the state is no stranger to well-made, small-batch spirits . For those looking to taste their way through a robust market, there’s possibly no better place on the East Coast to go.

Colin Spoelman, founder of Kings County Distillery, has seen a massive growth in New York’s distilling culture over the past decade. ‘In the beginning, more than half of the average visitors believed that bourbon could only be made in Kentucky; now people travel and ask about local spirits,’ he says.

Spoelman notes that just over a decade ago, craft distillers entered a market that was monopolised by corporate giants. ‘About a dozen distillers produced 99% of American whiskey ,’ he says. He adds that small producers have initiated a revolution and built enthusiasm for all whiskey over the past decade or so.

Better together

However, what sets New York’s scene apart from others – aside from the delicious whiskeys of course – is its sense of camaraderie. ‘I feel very close to our peers in NY distilling,’ says Spoelman. ‘Once we were competitors, but we all share a common project: trying to articulate what defines NY whiskey and sets it apart from more established (and more commercialised) heartland bourbon.’

From a product perspective, Spoelman states that rye has long been a dominant theme in New York’s distilling regimen. More figuratively, a focus on ‘getting geeky’ about ingredients and process, as well as creating a culture of openness and transparency, have also long been themes in the state.

‘Whiskey appreciators have been a niche audience for a long time, but that group is growing at lighting pace,’ explains Spoelman. ‘The average visitor is a lot more informed and curious now than 10 years ago – and my hope is that it all just keeps going.’

He describes today’s whiskey aficionados as: ‘Better consumers that do better for the world when they know and care about what they buy and drink.’ Judging by the pace at which the scene is growing, the future looks bright.

Great Jones Distillery

686 Broadway, New York, NY 10012

For the first time since Prohibition, a Manhattan-based distillery has opened its doors to craft whiskey enthusiasts – and it promises to give New York City’s longtime distillery base of Brooklyn a run for its money. ‘Our aim is to celebrate the best that New York has to offer by using New York-grown grains, and ensuring that all aspects of our whiskey production are completed in the state of New York,’ says Rodrigo Braun, brand experience director at Great Jones Distillery. In addition to operating as a distillery, GJD also boasts an on-site restaurant, event space and retail shop, featuring a variety of artisanal products made in New York State.

Braun reveals that there are a number of exciting things on the horizon for Great Jones Distillery this year. From late January, the distillery will expand its hours of operation to seven days per week, which will accommodate tours and include the second floor’s bar. Additionally, the distillery will continue to experiment with exclusive bottlings, as well as adding distilling classes to its current tour and programming repertoire. The Grid restaurant will also add new specialty dishes to its menu throughout the year. Follow @greatjonesdistillingco on Instagram to stay tuned or sign up for the distillery’s newsletter.

What you need to know

Open: Mon-Sun 12pm-10pm / 2nd Floor Bar is open 3pm-10pm daily

Tour cost: $35 Signature Distillery Tour (3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5:30pm and 6.30pm daily); $60 Bourbon & Bites Tour (Mon-Tue, 7.30pm); $145 Canapés and Cocktails (Mon-Tue, 7.30pm); $110 The Shake Up (a hands-on cocktail class).

Tasting cost: Tastings included with tours.

Must try: Straight Bourbon, Four Grain Bourbon, Rye

Kings County Distillery

299 Sands St, Brooklyn, NY 11205

The bar at Kings County Distillery

Kings County has been operating in the heart of Brooklyn since April 2010, at a time when craft spirits – particularly bourbon – were synonymous with big brands and Kentucky almost exclusively. Since then, Colin Spoelman, the distillery’s founder, has seen a ‘revolution built on enthusiasm’ for the craft whiskey sector. ‘We make all of our whiskey ourselves, which allows us to control more of the process on our custom-built equipment,’ he says, also citing the distillery’s emphasis on sensory evaluation, blending and warehouse conditions.

Spoelman explains that Kings County ‘infuses creativity into all our whiskey, hoping not to compete with Kentucky bourbon, but to expand the idea of American whiskey to include more flavours, more diversity and more transparency.’ In addition to tasting through the distillery’s staples, be sure to keep an eye out for its 7-Year Single Barrel bottlings, which have recently been released from the distillery.

Open: Mon-Fri 2pm-10pm; Sat 12pm-10pm; Sun 12pm-8pm

Tour cost: $20 (45 minute tour). Offered at 3pm Wed-Thu; 3pm and 5pm Fri; 1pm, 3pm, 5pm Sat; 4pm Sun. Top Shelf tours (1 hour, 15 minutes and including two additional rare whiskeys) offered at 2pm and 4pm Sat; 2pm Sun.

Tasting cost: Tour includes four whiskeys.

Must try: Straight Bourbon, Moonshine, Corn Whiskey, Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon

NY Distilling Co

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New York Distilling Co

According to Allen Katz, distiller and owner of NY Distilling Co, New York State’s distilling scene is the ‘largest, most diverse and competitive’ in the US. A decade after launching his distillery, Katz is continuing to evolve and expand, though like Schlesselman, he feels that NY Distilling’s stronghold is found in its rye. ‘If there’s one thing that highlights our particular outlook and contribution, it would be our singular and purposeful focus, from day one, on rye whiskey,’ he says.

In the future, Katz plans to craft more exciting rye whiskeys. Currently, the team is working on new blends, secondary barrel finishes and a one-of-a-kind rye varietal that’s already been 12 years in the making.

Open: Wed-Fri 5pm-12am, Sat 2pm-12am, Sun 4pm-10pm

Tour cost: Distillery tours not offered at the moment

Tasting cost: $15 Gin Flight (Dorothy Parker, Dorothy Parker Rose, and Perry’s Tot); $15 Whiskey Flight (Ragtime Rye, Applejack Barrel Finish, Bottled in Bond, House Single Barrel)

Must try: Ragtime Rye, Dorothy Parker American Gin

Van Brunt Stillhouse

6 Bay St Fl 1, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Bottling at Van Brunt Stillhouse

Now 10 years into the game, Van Brunt Distillery is expanding like never before. Founder Daric Schlesselman recalls that just a decade ago, only a handful of stores carried local spirits but now, almost every boutique shop has a section dedicated to the category. ‘I think all the NY distilleries are worthy of visiting,’ says Schlesselman, highlighting the ‘tremendous depth and variety’ amongst the state’s establishments.

Contrary to other regional bottlings, Schlesselman feels that NY state whiskeys – particularly its rye – have distinct points of view, as well as benefitting from a strong focus on grain bill and fermentation as sources of complexity before hitting the barrel. As Van Brunt continues to evolve and create new whiskeys, he coyly advises us to stay tuned for reveals of projects that are ‘still under wraps’. For now, a visit to the distillery (and a heft pour of its rye) will more than suffice.

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Widow Jane Distillery

218 Conover St, Brooklyn, NY 11231 

Widow Jane Distillery in Red Hook

Since Widow Jane’s opening in 2012, the number of craft distilleries in the country has increased tenfold, according to president and head distiller, Lisa Wicker. However, what sets Widow Jane apart from others – even other New York-based distilleries – is its special location. ‘Red Hook is such a unique place,’ Wicker explains, describing a ‘rawness, grit and intensity’ to the neighborhood. ‘It’s really its own piece of Brooklyn. Red Hook makes you work for it – you have to WANT to get there. And once you do, it rewards you.’

Wicker notes that Widow Jane proofs all of its whiskeys to bottle strength using limestone-rich water from the Rosendale Mines, a source that’s also provided raw materials to create the Brooklyn Bridge and the Empire State Building. Widow Jane has ambitious plans to greatly expand its output, as well as to grow its proprietary heirloom strand of corn. Although a visit to the distillery demands a trek, the journey – and liquid rewards – are well worth it.

Open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun 11am-7pm

Tour cost: $20 Public Tour (Fri 3pm, Sat-Sun 1pm, 3pm, 5pm). $30 Private tour (available by appointment Wed-Sun).

Tasting cost: Included with all tours.

Must try: 10-Year Bourbon, Decadence Bourbon, Baby Jane Bourbon (a distillery exclusive), Lucky Thirteen Bourbon

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Yekaterinburg or Ekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk in 1924-1991) is the fourth most populous city in Russia (after Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Novosibirsk), the administrative center of the Ural Federal District and Sverdlovsk Oblast.

This city is one of the country’s largest transport and logistics hubs, as well as an important industrial center. It is unofficially called the “capital of the Urals.”

The population of Yekaterinburg is about 1,493,600 (2022), the area - 468 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 343, the postal codes - 620000-620920.

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1 February, 2011   / Today is the 80th anniversary of the birth of Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia. President Medvedev today unveiled a monument to Yeltsin in his home city Ekaterinburg. First one in Russia.

History of Yekaterinburg

Foundation of yekaterinburg.

The territory along the Iset River, which served as a convenient transport route from the Ural Mountains deep into Siberia, has long attracted settlers. The oldest of the currently discovered settlements on the territory of present Yekaterinburg was located next to the Palkinsky Stone Tents rock massif and dates back to the 6th millennium BC.

From the 7th-3rd centuries BC, ancient metallurgists who mastered the smelting of copper lived in this settlement. Copper figures of birds, animals, people, arrowheads, various household items were found here. Later they learned how to make iron products. All discovered settlements were destroyed as a result of fires, possibly during raids of the conquerors.

The territory occupied by present Yekaterinburg became part of Russia in the middle of the 17th century. At that time, it had practically no permanent population. The first Russian settlements were founded in the second half of the 17th century. At the beginning of the 18th century, the first ironworks were built here.

In the spring of 1723, by decree of Emperor Peter I, the construction of the largest iron-making plant in Russia began on the banks of the Iset River. Construction began on the initiative of Vasily Tatishchev (a prominent Russian statesman). He was supported by Georg Wilhelm de Gennin (a German-born Russian military officer and engineer), on the initiative of which the fortress plant was named Yekaterinburg in honor of Empress Catherine I (Yekaterina in Russian), the wife of Peter I.

More Historical Facts…

The historic birthday of Yekaterinburg is November 18, 1723. On this day, a test run of the plant equipment was carried out. Its main products included iron, cast iron, and copper. In 1725, the Yekaterinburg Mint began production on the territory of the fortress and became the main producer of copper coins in the Russian Empire. Until 1876, it produced about 80% of the country’s copper coins. In the 1720s, the population of Yekaterinburg was about 4,000 people.

Yekaterinburg - one of the economic centers of the Russian Empire

In the middle of the 18th century, the first ore gold in Russia was discovered in this region, which was the beginning of the gold industry in the country. As a result, Yekaterinburg became the center of a whole system of densely located plants and began to develop as the capital of the mining region, which spread on both sides of the Ural Range.

In 1781, Catherine II granted Yekaterinburg the status of a county town in the Perm Governorate. The population of the town was about 8,000 people. In 1783, the town received a coat of arms depicting an ore mine and a melting furnace, which symbolized its mining and metallurgical industries (similar images are depicted on the current coat of arms and flag of Yekaterinburg).

In 1783, the Great Siberian Road was opened - the main road of the Russian Empire that passed through Yekaterinburg. It served as an impetus for the transformation of Yekaterinburg into a transport hub and a center of trade. Thus, Yekaterinburg, among other towns of the Perm Governorate, became the key town for the development of the boundless and rich Siberia, the “window to Asia”, just as St. Petersburg was the Russian “window to Europe.”

In 1808, the Yekaterinburg plant was closed, and the history of the town entered a new stage related to the development of a large regional center with a diversified economy. At the beginning of the 19th century, the gold mining industry flourished. At the same time, deposits of emeralds, sapphires, aquamarines, diamonds, and other precious, semiprecious, and ornamental stones were discovered in the Urals. Yekaterinburg became one of the world centers for their artistic processing.

After the abolition of serfdom in 1861, the mining industry of the Urals experienced a severe crisis, a number of plants were closed. In 1878, the first railway was constructed across the Urals and connected Yekaterinburg with Perm. In 1888, the Yekaterinburg-Tyumen railway was built, and in 1897 - the railway to Chelyabinsk, which provided access to the Trans-Siberian Railway. Yekaterinburg became a major railway junction, which contributed to the development of the local food industry, especially flour milling. In 1913, the population of Yekaterinburg was about 69,000 people.

Yekaterinburg in the first years of Soviet power

On November 8, 1917, Soviet power was established in Yekaterinburg. On April 30, 1918, the last Russian emperor Nicholas II and his family members with a few servants were transported from Tobolsk to Yekaterinburg. They were placed in the “House of Special Purpose”, the mansion of engineer Nikolai Ipatiev requisitioned for this purpose, and transferred under the supervision and responsibility of the Ural Regional Soviet.

In July 1918, units of the White Siberian army approached Yekaterinburg, under this pretext the leadership of the Ural Regional Soviet decided to shoot the imperial family. On the night of July 16-17, 1918, it was done in the basement of the Ipatiev House.

10 days later, units of the Czechoslovak Legion entered Yekaterinburg. Over the next 12 months, it was under the control of anti-Bolshevik forces. On July 14, 1919, the Red Army reoccupied the city. Soviet authorities and the Yekaterinburg Province with a center in Yekaterinburg were restored. In 1920, the population of the city was about 94,400 people.

The political center of the Urals moved from Perm to Yekaterinburg. In 1923, Yekaterinburg became the administrative center of the vast Ural Oblast, which in size exceeded the territory of the present Ural Federal District of Russia. In 1924, the city council decided to rename the capital of the new region to Sverdlovsk - in honor of Yakov Sverdlov, a Bolshevik party administrator and chairman of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee.

Sverdlovsk - a Soviet industrial giant

During the years of Stalin’s industrialization, Sverdlovsk was turned into a powerful industrial center. The old factories were reconstructed and new large factories were built, including giant machine-building and metal processing plants. In 1933, the construction of the future flagship of Soviet engineering (Uralmash) was completed. The population of Sverdlovsk grew by more than 3 times, and it became one of the fastest growing cities in the USSR.

January 17, 1934, Ural Oblast was divided into three regions - Sverdlovsk Oblast with a center in Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk Oblast with a center in Chelyabinsk, and Ob-Irtysh Oblast with a center in Tyumen. By the end of the 1930s, there were 140 industrial enterprises, 25 research institutes, 12 higher educational institutions in Sverdlovsk. In 1939, the population of the city was about 425,500 people.

Along with other Ural cities, Sverdlovsk made a significant contribution to the victory of the USSR in the Second World War. In total, more than 100,000 residents of the city joined the Red Army. 41,772 people didn’t return from the war: 21,397 - killed in battles, 4,778 - died from wounds in hospitals, 15,491 - went missing, 106 - died in prisoner of war camps.

Sverdlovsk became the largest evacuation point, more than 50 large and medium enterprises from the western regions of Russia and Ukraine were evacuated here. During the war years, industrial production in Sverdlovsk grew 7 times.

After the war, this city became the largest center for engineering and metalworking in Russia. During the Cold War, Sverdlovsk, as a key center of the defense industry, was practically closed to foreigners. In 1960, in the sky above the city, Soviet air defense shot down the U-2 spy plane of the US manned by Francis Gary Powers.

On January 23, 1967, a millionth resident was born in the city and Sverdlovsk became one of the first Russian cities with a population of more than 1 million people. In 1979, Sverdlovsk was included in the list of historical cities of Russia.

On October 4, 1988, a serious accident occurred at the Sverdlovsk railway station. The train carrying almost 100 tons of explosives rolled downhill and crashed into a coal freight train. An explosion occurred, aggravated by the proximity of a large warehouse of fuels and lubricants. The funnel at the site of the explosion had a diameter of 40-60 meters and a depth of 8 meters, the shock wave spread 10-15 kilometers. The explosion killed 4 people at the station and injured more than 500 people. About 600 houses were severely damaged.

Yekaterinburg - one of the largest cities of the Russian Federation

On September 4, 1991, the Sverdlovsk City Council of People’s Deputies decided to return the city its original name - Yekaterinburg. The population of the city was about 1,375,000 people. The restrictions on foreign visitors to the city were also lifted, and soon the first consulate general was opened here - the United States of America (in 1994).

The transition to a market economy led to a reduction in production at industrial enterprises, inert giant plant found themselves in a particularly difficult situation. In 1991, the construction of the television tower was stopped. The city was flooded with chaotic small retail trade in temporary pavilions and markets. These years were the heyday of organized crime, Yekaterinburg became one of the “criminal capitals” of Russia. The economic situation began to improve by the end of the 1990s.

In 2000-2003, the Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian Land was built on the site of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg. In 2008-2009, the Koltsovo Airport was reconstructed. In June 15-17, 2009, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) and BRIC (Brasilia, Russia, India, China) summits were held in Yekaterinburg.

In 2015, the Presidential Center of Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, was opened in Yekaterinburg. On March 24, 2018, the abandoned unfinished television tower was dismantled. It was the tallest building in the city (almost 240 meters) and became one of the symbols of Yekaterinburg. 4 matches of FIFA World Cup 2018 were played in Yekaterinburg.

Today, Yekaterinburg is the largest center of attraction not only of Sverdlovsk Oblast, but also of the surrounding regions. By some socio-economic indicators, this city ranks third in Russia, after Moscow and St. Petersburg. Along with the development of trade and business, the city lost the status of the country’s largest industrial center.

On the streets of Yekaterinburg

Soviet-era apartment buildings in Yekaterinburg

Author: Alex Kolm

In the central part of Yekaterinburg

Author: Serg Fokin

Yekaterinburg street view

Author: Krutikov S.V.

Yekaterinburg - Features

Yekaterinburg is located in the floodplain of the Iset River on the eastern slope of the Middle Urals in Asia, near its border with Europe, about 1,800 km east of Moscow. Since the Ural Mountains are very old, there are no significant hills in the city.

This relief was a favorable condition for the construction of the main transport routes from Central Russia to Siberia (the Siberian Route and the Trans-Siberian Railway) through Yekaterinburg. As a result, it has become one of the most strategically important centers of Russia, which still provides a link between the European and Asian parts of the country.

Yekaterinburg is located in the border zone of temperate continental and continental climates. It is characterized by a sharp variability in weather conditions with well-defined seasons. The Ural Mountains, despite their low height, block the way to the masses of air coming from the west from the European part of Russia.

As a result, the Middle Urals is open to the invasion of cold Arctic air and continental air of the West Siberian Plain. At the same time, warm air masses of the Caspian Sea and the deserts of Central Asia can freely enter this territory from the south.

That is why the city is characterized by sharp temperature fluctuations and the formation of weather anomalies: in winter from severe frosts to thaws and rains, in summer from heat above plus 35 degrees Celsius to frosts. The average temperature in January is minus 12.6 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19 degrees Celsius.

The city has a rather unfavorable environmental situation due to air pollution. In 2016, Yekaterinburg was included in the list of Russian cities with the worst environmental situation by this indicator. Car emissions account for more than 90% of all pollution.

Yekaterinburg ranks third in Russia (after Moscow and St. Petersburg) in the number of diplomatic missions, while their consular districts extend far beyond Sverdlovsk Oblast, and serve other regions of the Urals, Siberia, and the Volga region.

In terms of economy, Yekaterinburg also ranks third in the country. It is one of the largest financial and business centers of Russia. The main branches of production: metallurgical production and metalworking, food production, production of electrical equipment, electronic and optical equipment, production of vehicles, production of machinery and equipment, chemical production.

Almost all types of urban public transport are presented in Yekaterinburg: buses, trolleybuses, trams, subways, taxis. Yekaterinburg is the third largest transportation hub in Russia: 6 federal highways, 7 main railway lines, as well as Koltsovo International Airport, one of the country’s largest airports. The location of Yekaterinburg in the central part of the region allows you to get from it to any major city of the Urals in 7-10 hours.

Yekaterinburg has an extensive scientific and technical potential, it is one of the largest scientific centers in Russia. The Presidium and about 20 institutes of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 66 research institutes, and about 30 universities are located here.

This city is a relatively large tourist center. A significant part of tourists visit it to honor the memory of the last Russian emperor and his family killed by the Bolsheviks in the basement of the Ipatiev House in 1918.

There are about 50 different museums in Yekaterinburg. One of the world’s largest collections of constructivist architectural monuments has been preserved here. In total, there are over 600 historical and cultural monuments in the city, of which 43 are objects of federal significance. The City Day of Yekaterinburg is celebrated on the third Saturday of August.

Interesting facts about Yekaterinburg

• It was founded by the decree of the first Russian Emperor Peter I and the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II was shot here;
• In 1820, the roof of the UK Parliament building in London was made of roofing iron produced in Yekaterinburg;
• Ural steel was used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris;
• Ural copper was used in the construction of the Statue of Liberty in New York;
• During the Second World War, Sverdlovsk was the center of broadcasting in the USSR;
• Equipment for the world’s deepest borehole (Kola Superdeep Borehole, 12,262 meters) was produced in Yekaterinburg;
• Boris Yeltsin, the first president of Russia, began his political career in Yekaterinburg;
• Minor planet #27736 Yekaterinburg, discovered by the Belgian astronomer Eric Elst on September 22, 1990, was named in honor of this city;
• Two most northern skyscrapers in the world are located in Yekaterinburg: the Iset residential tower (209 m) and the Vysotsky business center (188 m), they are the tallest buildings throughout Russia east of Moscow.

Pictures of Yekaterinburg

Yekaterinburg city view

Author: Andrey Zagaynov

Modern architecture in Yekaterinburg

Author: Yury Baranov

The territory of the central stadium of Yekaterinburg before reconstruction

Author: Sergey Likhota

Main Attractions of Yekaterinburg

Sevastyanov House - a palace of the first quarter of the 19th century built in the architectural styles of pseudo-Gothic, Neo-Baroque, and Moorish traditions and painted in green, white, and red tones. Today, it is the most beautiful building in Yekaterinburg and one of its symbols. The house stands on the promenade of the Iset River, very close to the city dam. Lenina Avenue, 35.

“Plotinka” - the dam of the city pond on the Iset River built in the 18th century. From an architectural point of view, it is an ordinary bridge. However, it is of particular importance for the residents of Yekaterinburg since the construction of the entire city started from this place. Today, this is the main place for festivities in Yekaterinburg. Lenina Avenue.

Observation Deck of the Business Center “Vysotsky” - an open-air observation deck on the 52nd floor at an altitude of 168 meters. From here you can enjoy the views of all of Yekaterinburg. On the second and third floors of this skyscraper there is the memorial museum of Vladimir Vysotsky - a singer, songwriter, and actor who had an immense effect on Soviet culture. Malysheva Street, 51.

Vaynera Street - the central avenue of Yekaterinburg, the so-called “Ural Arbat”. One of its parts from Kuibysheva Street to Lenina Avenue is a pedestrian street. This is one of the oldest streets in Yekaterinburg laid in the middle of the 18th century. Along it, you can see merchant mansions, shops, administrative buildings, most of which were built in the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.

Rastorguev-Kharitonov Palace (1794-1824) - one of the most valuable architectural manor and park ensembles in Yekaterinburg, an architectural monument of federal significance built in the classical style and located in the city center. Karla Libknekhta Street, 44.

Church of the Ascension (1792-1818) - one of the oldest churches in Yekaterinburg located next to the Rastorguev-Kharitonov Palace. This beautiful building combines the features of baroque, pseudo-Russian style, and classicism. Klary Tsetkin Street, 11.

Yeltsin Center - a cultural and educational center dedicated to the contemporary history of Russia, as well as the personality of its first president, Boris Yeltsin. The museum dedicated to his life is one of the best museums in Russia. Borisa Yeltsina Street, 3.

Yekaterinburg Museum of Fine Arts - the largest art museum in the Urals housed in two buildings. This museum is best known for its unique collection of Kasli art castings and the world-famous Kasli cast iron pavilion - a participant in the 1900 Paris World’s Fair.

The following collections can also be found here: Russian paintings of the 18th - early 20th centuries, Russian avant-garde of 1910-1920, Russian porcelain and glass of the 18th - 20th centuries, Russian icon painting of the 16th-19th centuries, Western European art of the 14th-19th centuries, stone-carving and jewelry art of the Urals, Zlatoust decorated weapons and steel engraving. Voevodina Street, 5; Vaynera Street, 11.

Museum of the History of Stone-Cutting and Jewelry Art . A unique collection of this museum consists of gem minerals, works of jewelers and stone-cutters of the Urals, and products created at the Ural lapidary factory. The museum has Malachite and Bazhov halls, the Emerald Room, and several exhibition galleries where visitors can see works made of colored stone and metal created by local artists. Lenina Avenue, 37.

Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore . At first, its collection consisted of four departments: mineralogical, botanical, zoological, and paleontological. Later, numismatic, ethnographic, and anthropological sections were added. Today, there are more than 700 thousand exhibits here. Lenina Avenue, 69/10.

Museum of the History of Yekaterinburg . This museum occupies a historic building of the 19th century. In addition to the main exhibition, you can see the wax figures of Peter the Great, Catherine II, Nicholas II, the Ural manufacturers Demidov, and the founders of Yekaterinburg.

Old Railway Station of Yekaterinburg - one of the most beautiful and picturesque buildings in the city built in 1878. In 2003, after a large-scale reconstruction, the Museum of the History of Science and Technology of the Sverdlovsk Railway was opened here. Vokzal’naya Ulitsa, 14.

Yekaterinburg Circus . Visible from a lot of points of the city, the building of the Yekaterinburg Circus is known for its amazing dome consisting of trellised openwork semi-arches, which is not typical for circuses in Russia. 8 Marta Street, 43.

White Tower (1929-1931) - a former water tower 29 meters high located at a certain distance from the center of Yekaterinburg, an architectural monument of Constructivism. Today, it is used as a cultural site. Bakinskikh Komissarov Street, 2?.

Keyboard Monument - a contemporary art object made on a scale of 30:1 in 2005. This 16x4 meter concrete keyboard consists of 104 keys spaced 15 cm apart. From here the famous tourist route “Red Line” begins (a self-guided tour of the historic city center). The monument is located on the embankment of the Iset River next to the House of the Merchant Chuvildin (Gorkogo Street, 14A).

Ekaterinburg city of Russia photos

Places of interest in yekaterinburg.

Sculpture of talking townspeople in Yekaterinburg

Author: Pichugin Mikhail

Old buildings in Yekaterinburg

Author: Andrew Golovin

Wooden Church of the Holy Martyr Arkady in Yekaterinburg

Author: Kutenyov Vladimir

Street transport of Yekaterinburg

Tram in Yekaterinburg

Author: Andrey Permyakov

Bus in Yekaterinburg

Author: Per Heitmann

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