One of the oldest monuments in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – the monument to French Explorer of the eighteenth century Jean-Francois Halo the La Perouse (Jean-Francios de Galaup, cornte de La-Perouse), set on the street of Lenin.

The monument was erected in honor of the visit of the expedition of La Perouse on the frigates Astrolabe and the compass" in Petropavlovsk Harbor in 1787. Our theater was warmly welcomed by the ships Navigator, providing every possible assistance, as has been written by La Perouse, the French envoy in St. Petersburg enthusiastic letter, now stored in the archives of the Leningrad branch of the Institute of history.

The expedition of La Perouse ended tragically, the latest news from the Navigator was received with the coast of Australia, after which the expedition had disappeared. Only after 34 years in the archipelago of Vera Cruz were found the remains of ships.

A monument to the French Navigator was installed in the city at the initiative of the government of France. The authorities of Kamchatka were submitted drawings of the monument, and receiving the highest resolution from Petersburg, in 1843 a monument was erected on the isthmus between the Signal and the St. Nicholas hills.

As such, the monument stood until 1854, when, during the heroic defense of Petropavlovsk port it was destroyed by the shells of the Anglo-French squadron. In 1882, the monument was restored on the initiative of and funded by exiled scientist, member of the Polish liberation uprising B. I. Dybowski. It was a white wooden cross on a stone base. The cross was attached a metal plate with the inscription in French: "to the memory of La Perouse. 1787". After 10 years, the sailors of the cruiser "Bully" was erected another monument in honor of Explorer – preserved stone Foundation established the stone is rounded, anchor and anchor chain. In 30-ies of XX century, the monument was moved to the square on Lenin street, where it is currently.