The Monument to the Millennium of Russia was erected in Veliky Novgorod in 1862 in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Russian statehood. The project of the monument was developed by artist Mikhail Mikeshin, sculptor Ivan Shreder, and architect Viktor Hartman. The main idea of the monument is to affirm the principles of autocracy, Orthodoxy, and nationality.

The composition of the monument resembles the "Monomakh's Cap," a symbol of the autocratic power of the Russian Empire. It consists of a large orb representing the state, placed on a bell-shaped pedestal, uniting the symbols of the tsar's power and the Novgorod veche bell.

The monument reaches a height of 15.7 meters. The diameter of the granite pedestal is 9 meters, the orb is 4 meters, and the circumference of the bas-relief is 26.5 meters. The total weight of the metal in the monument is 100 tons, of which 65.5 tons is bronze casting.

The composition of the monument includes 128 figures arranged on three levels.

On the upper tier are two figures: an angel with a cross symbolizing Orthodoxy and a kneeling woman representing Russia. These figures are placed on the orb, adorned with crosses and the inscription: "To the completed millennium of the Russian state in the prosperous reign of Emperor Alexander II in the year 1862."

The middle tier represents six epochs of Russian history. Here are depicted Prince Rurik, the founder of Rus, Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich, who baptized Rus, Dmitry Donskoy, the liberator from the Tatar-Mongol yoke, Ivan III, the unifier of Russian lands, Mikhail Romanov, Prince Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, who ended the Time of Troubles, and Peter I, the founder of the Russian Empire.

The lower tier is decorated with bas-reliefs of outstanding figures of Russia, divided into four groups:

Enlighteners, represented by 31 figures on the southwest side under the figure of Prince Vladimir. Here you can see Cyril and Methodius, Princess Olga, chronicler Nestor, and Sergius of Radonezh.

Statesmen, represented by 26 figures on the eastern side. Here are depicted Yaroslav the Wise, Vladimir Monomakh, Alexei Adashev, Alexei Mikhailovich, Catherine II, Grigory Potemkin, Alexander I, and Mikhail Speransky.

Military heroes, represented by 36 figures on the northeast side. Among them are Alexander Nevsky, Yermak Timofeyevich, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Ivan Susanin, Alexei Orlov, Alexander Suvorov, Pyotr Bagration, and Pavel Nakhimov.

Writers and artists, represented by 16 figures on the northwest side. Here you can see Lomonosov, Derzhavin, Lermontov, Pushkin, Glinka, and Bryullov.