One of the most important symbols of the city of Petrozavodsk, as well as its main gate is the railway station. Since the beginning of construction (1916) and before the great Patriotic war, the station building was located two kilometers from the Central part of the city, namely in the area of present Pervomaisky Prospekt. When in 1946 ended the occupation of the city, the city of Petrozavodsk almost completely in ruins. It was at this time have the opportunity to alter the architectural map of the city. The first with the idea of moving the station to the Central part of the city by Dmitry Maslennikov – the architect, who headed the office for the architecture of the Karelo-Finnish SSR.

Already in 1946, the national government approved a new plan to build the station. Soon work began on the implementation of the new plan, transfer and conversion paths. In addition, the old warehouses were demolished, the site of the planned station. By 1955, the city was built the station. Its author was the architect of Leningrad V. Cipolin. The terrain demanded enough of the original author's solution, and for this reason the station has its unique facade not only from the platform but from the station.

During the stay in power of Nikita Khrushchev reforms, and especially the struggle with all sorts of luxuries even affected the architecture. Such exuberance was placed in the steeple. Helped only by the fact that the decree was given very late, and the spire had already prepared, and do it has been nowhere. A new station building fit in with the architecture of Petrozavodsk, changing for the better planning of the whole city. Thus it happened that the square located in front of lake Onega, became especially important from the point of view of urban development.

Before was built the station, the Avenue was considered a street that has no beginning or end. After station square has made its appearance compositional completion, the prospect was indeed the most Central street of the city. Station square was built in the 1950s, and later received the name of the area name of Yuri Gagarin.

The station building is a one-piece symmetrical-axial composition. Despite the fact that it has a great length, because the length of the body is 82 meters, it absolutely does not look monotonous. The placement of the railway system allowed to avoid all the disadvantages that are inherent to enfilade the reception, and to divide the levels area of the operating rooms and the waiting area. The core of the railway station became a double-height hall, which is connected on the ground floor of the building with the ticket office, tunnel and an office space that lead to the platforms. On the second floor there is a restaurant and lounge. The overlap of the floor rests on the architrave of the columns, located at balcony railings.

The most important thing in the composition is a three-story Central volume with monumental four-columned recessed portico. Situated above him round the Belvedere has a completion in the form of an octagonal turret, which is topped by a spire. The Central projection serves as a portal representing the city gates; side corbels similar to Kategorie, which sentries premises, which are characteristic for design entries of the classicism of the 18-19th centuries. The station building is richly decorated with moldings and Corinthian has developed a warrant. In 1979, near the station was added baggage management center under the direction of architect E. V. Voskresensky. This centre has a main entrance on one side of the platform.

In March 1955, it was held a meeting of workers on the forecourt, which was dedicated to the Grand opening of the new station. On 5 March from the railway platform set off the first passenger train type Petrozavodsk – Leningrad. On the same day the train from Murmansk brought the first passengers on the Petrozavodsk station.