At the foot of the Chkalov staircase, on the lower Volga embankment in Nizhny Novgorod on a huge pedestal mounted boat "Hero", who took his time in the major wars of the twentieth century on the territory of the USSR. Heroic river vessel on the initiative of veteran rivermen was established in the eve of the anniversary of Victory (in may 1985) on a granite pedestal in the most picturesque part of the embankment.

Built boat "Hero" in 1916 at the Kolomna plant and before the revolution was called "Matthew Bashkirov". In 1918 the ship was dressed in armor, armed with machine guns and gave the name of "Volgar volunteer". Famous "Volgar", like dozens of other ships of the Volga military flotilla, fighting on the Volga, the Caspian sea, the White river and the Kama river in the civil war. In peace time the boat was converted to tow oil caravans with sea and carry the dispatch service, but in 1942 "Volgar" was once again dressed in armor and equipped with anti-aircraft gun. In 1942-1943 heroic boat participated in the battles against the Nazi invaders at Stalingrad. Since 1967 the boat-veteran every navigation went on a cruise on the Volga, conducting advocacy work as a Museum of fighting glory of the Navy.

Nowadays, the monument of history and culture boat "Hero", after 90 years of work in the Volga flotilla, stands on eternal Parking lot at the foot of the Chkalov staircase and is one of the tourist attractions in Nizhny Novgorod. For the people of Novgorod "Hero" is an obligatory stop in the itinerary of the wedding walks. And every year on Victory Day to the monument to lay flowers.