Editing Irkutsk Oblast (section)

===19th century===
[[File:Ferroviacircolarebaikal.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Circum-Baikal Railway]] skirts the southwestern tip of Lake Baikal]]
In the late eighteenth century and the early nineteenth century, Irkutsk Province gradually increased in importance as a center of trade, craft, and culture. It became the center of Russian trade with China and, from the 1830s, a gold-manufacturing center of Eastern Siberia. In 1803 Irkutsk became the center of the Siberian [[Governorate-General (Russian Empire)|Governorate-General]], and in 1822 it became the center of the [[East-Siberian Governorate-General|Eastern Siberian Governorate-General]]. The Governors-General of Eastern Siberia greatly influenced the development of the city.

Irkutsk merchants explored the [[Yeniseysk Governorate|Yeniseysky]] and [[Vitim River|Leno-Vitimsky]] gold regions and substantially increased their capital, which made them the richest merchants in Siberia. The Irkutsk merchant class began to play a major role in the city's development. Intensive city construction took place. Private residences, hospitals, orphanages, and schools were built, while significant funds went towards education and the development of science in the region.

The architecture of the city of Irkutsk underwent change. The {{ill|Irkutsk White House|ru|Белый дом (Иркутск)}}, done in Russian classic style in 1800–1804, and the {{ill|Moscow Triumphal Gates of Irkutsk|ru|Московские ворота (Иркутск)}} – a monument of the nineteenth century, were built in honor of the tenth anniversary of [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I's]] reign.

[[File:Церемония закладки часовни Христа Спасителя. Фото А. К. Гофмана. 1866..jpg|thumb|right|1866 ground-breaking ceremony for the Chapel of Christ the Savior in Irkutsk]]
In the second half of the nineteenth century the printing art developed in Irkutsk, the first newspapers being, “Irkutsk province news” and “Amur”. The names of A.P.Schapov, M.B.Zagoskin, V.I.Vagin were connected with the newspaper “Siberia”. In 1851, the first scientific organization in Eastern Siberia – the Siberian branch of Russian geographical society, was opened. In 1877, it was called the Eastern-Siberian branch. V.I.Dybovskii, A.L.Chekanovskii, I.D.Cherskii, V.A.Obruchev, geologists, geographers and researchers of Siberia, worked in Irkutsk Oblast on exploring [[Lake Baikal]] and the [[Lena River]].

The summer of 1879 could be considered to be a dramatic period in the city of Irkutsk's history. During a July 22–24 fire almost all the central parts of the city were burnt, and more than two thirds of city buildings and 75 city districts were destroyed. The city began to revive, getting a new look. Stone and wooden constructions built after the fire have been preserved up to the present day. In 1898 the arrival of the first train via the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]] to Irkutsk Oblast was a major event. The construction of the [[Trans-Siberian Railway]] contributed to further city development.

Several politically exiled figures were connected with Irkutsk city. Among the first of the exiled was A.N. Radischev, who lived in Irkutsk for more than 3 months. Since the 1830s, the Decembrists lived in settlements and in colonies in the Irkutsk Oblast. The exiled houses of Volkonsky and Trubetskoy later became house-museums. N. A. Panov, I. V. Podzhio, A. Z. Muravyov, P. A. Mukhanov, A. P. Yushnevsky, V. A. Bechasnov, the wife of Trubetskoy and their children stayed in Irkutsk for the rest of their lives. In the late 1850s, the Petrashevtzy appeared in Irkutsk. The exiled historian-democrat, A.P. Schapov, lived here until his last days, and the Polish rebels and revolutionaries (including the ''narodnik'') also lived here.

[[File:Иркутск. Часовня Спасителя и Медведниковский Банк, ф.1897г..JPG|thumb|right|Chapel of the Savior and Medvednikovsky Bank, 1897]]
A well-known Russian publicist of the nineteenth century, N. Shelgunov, wrote about Irkutsk: “Irkutsk is the only Siberian city, which has the city character. ...As England created London, France - Paris, Siberia – created Irkutsk. Siberia is proud of Irkutsk, “not to see this city” means “not to see Siberia”.

In the early nineteenth century the city was considerably changed, especially its center. Large buildings were being built, mason streets were being made, cab drivers and street lights appeared. The water supply and the first electrification stations were built. The Irkutsk Regional museum was stamped with the names of Siberian researchers on its walls (1883), the building of the first public community, city theater (1897), Kazan' cathedral, made in new Byzantine style (1893), and the Roman Catholic cathedral (1895) completed an architectural style of the city. In 1908 a monument to [[Alexander III of Russia|Alexander III]] was opened on the Angara embankment.