There are few cities, which have unremittingly existed during many millenniums. One of such cities is Gyumri –the center of Shirak region. Gyumri is the second largest city in Armenia, which has 3000 years history. City’s name has been changed four times. The first city mentioned as Kumayri. Armenian historic Ghevond wrote that in 774-775 in Kumayri took place rebellion governed by Armenian prince Artavazd Mamikonyan. It was against Arab yoke, and, finally, which was finished by restoration of Armenian state headed by the Bagratuny dynasty. In that period Shirak became a political, economic and cultural center of Armenia.

The second name was Aleksandrapol. As a result of Russian-Persian war, in 1805 Gyumri entered into membership of Russian Empire (Eastern Armenia, 1828) at first as the center of Shuragelian province, and from 1840-as the center of Alexandrapolian province. In a short period in Kumayri-Gyumri a whole complex of powerful fortification construction was built and in 1837 the Russian Emperor Nikolay the First, who visited Gyumri, renamed the city Alexandrapol in honor of Empress Alexandra Roman.

The black fortress also was built buy Russians in 1837. It once protected the Russian Empire from the Ottoman Empire. This building made of black tuff, because the black tuff the locals use “Black Fortress” name. The building is a private property and is being renovated as a large concert hall.

The city also grew at the end of the XIX century. Gyumri was called the city of Masters, where every fourth inhabitant was a craftsman. They came in units of 35 craft-groups (workshops, called hamqarutyun). Their products were known in Russia and in Europe. They were known in the whole Transcaucasus, and they built unique buildings, churches like as St Astvatsatsin(1887), St Nshan (1864), Amenaprkich (1873).

During the years of Soviet rule Gyumri –Leninakan was a big industrial town, transportation province, the second scientific-cultural centre of Armenia in importance. In its textile, machine-constructing, food, shoes, sewing, glass and near 40 other industrial enterprises lathe-machines, polish-machines and stone-cutting machines, electro-technical devices and equipments, which were exported to foreign countries were produced.

In 1926 and 1988 powerful earthquakes occurred in Leninakan. The second one almost wholly destroyed the majority part of Leninakan.

Gyumri is a town with rich cultural heritage, and it gave birth to such famous figures of science and culture as: Hovhannes Shiraz, Avetik Isahakyan, Atrpet, Mher Mkrtchyan etc.

Nowdays Gyumri was and is the town, which keeps national traditions, the unique atmosphere of humor and human generosity.