8 may 1985 in Leningrad, in the centre of one of the most majestic squares of the city - the area of the Rebellion - opened the obelisk to hero City of Leningrad". This event took place exactly 20 years after the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved the regulation "On the highest distinction – the title of "hero City". For the first time Leningrad was named a hero city by order of the Supreme Commander-in-chief from may 1, 1945

The authors of the 36-metre monument are the architects A. I. Alimov and V. S. Lukyanov. Bronze ornament in the work of sculptors A. A. Vinogradova, A. S. Charkin, And B. Petrov D. V. Sveshnikov. The monument is a reminder of another monument dedicated to the heroism of the Russian people in the war of 1812 – the Alexander column.

Granite monolith monument completes the front part of the Nevsky Prospekt. Together with the complex of buildings located around the square — the hotel "Oktyabrskaya", buildings of the Moscow railway station and metro station "Ploschad Vosstaniya" – the obelisk is in a harmonious ensemble.

The hero-city obelisk is mounted on a 50 concrete piles. Base and the base of the monument is ten meters, the height of the Central part together with the top exceeds 22 meters. The weight of the main part of about 360 tons, base width of about 9 meters, the total weight of the obelisk is 750 tons, base diameter 3, 6 meter, inner circumference of bronze wreath 4, 5 meters, the height of the stars and the tops of 3, 6 meter, the size of the star, made of stainless steel, is 1, 8 meters. The lower part of the obelisk is covered thematic reliefs "Tyl-frontu", "Blockade", "Win", "Attack", telling about the days of the defense of Leningrad and Recalling the heroic past of the city. On bronze cartouche inscription – "hero City Leningrad". Above the bas-reliefs of the obelisk bordered with a Wreath of Glory from bronze. On top of the hero-city obelisk – "Golden star".

The monument was opened in a solemn ceremony in 1985, on the eve of Victory Day. Nevsky Prospekt and Ligovsky, the area of the Rebellion were decorated with banners, flags and pins. In honor of this event were released commemorative medal, badges, postcards. The right of discovery was awarded honorary residents and well-known citizens: the Director of the Hermitage Museum of academician B. B. Piotrovsky, the Hero of the Soviet Union V. N. Kharitonov, commander of the Leningrad naval base Admiral V. A. Samoylova, twice Hero of Socialist Labor V. S. Chicherov, honored workers of culture, science, art.

Thousands of people, citizens and guests of the city, came to the square that day. The obelisk was built in the honor guard that brought the battle flags of military units, flags of the Leningrad region and topped with orders. The orchestra of the Leningrad military district was the national anthem of the USSR, the marches of the war years. During the ceremony, the parade was held, during which in solemn ranks were soldiers of all corps and honor guard. In laying flowers to the monument was attended by representatives of foreign powers, the soldiers of foreign armies, officials of different ranks, residents and guests of Leningrad.

For installation of the obelisk were invited qualified builders and installers. Granite is made of this monument, was produced in a career "Rebirth" near Vyborg. Monolithic slab weighing more than 2 thousand tons was separated from the main reservoir 6 November 1983 a part of the processing was done in-situ in the quarry. The final part of the cutting and polishing of the obelisk were already in place – on Vosstaniya square.