Russian Emperor Alexander I was particularly pleased to Taganrog and did much for its development and prosperity. The first time he visited Taganrog in may 1818, during his travels in the South of Russia. A second visit was made together with his wife Elizabeth in the autumn of 1825 due to the illness of the Empress, which doctors recommended favorable southern climate.

The mayor of Taganrog was sent to dispatch the desire of the Emperor for a long time to stay in the city and the need to prepare the Royal apartments, preferably in the house in which he stayed at the first visit. From the Treasury, the money was allocated in the amount of 25 thousand rubles, and by September the house was ready to receive important guests. The house was one-story building with outbuildings. Originally it belonged to the Governor-General P. A. Papkova, who later sold it to the city construction Committee and he was state house borough. Here the Emperor had lived for several months before his sudden death.

The desire of the inhabitants of Taganrog to erect a monument to Alexander I had heard the new Emperor Nicholas I, and to make the project of the monument was accepted by the rector of the Academy of arts of the famous sculptor Ivan Martos. Celebrations on the occasion of the opening of the monument took place in October 1831 with solemn Church services, evening illuminations, ringing of bells of all the churches of the city, volleys of ground-based guns and the guns of the ships lying at anchor.

The monument was erected in the center of Jerusalem square, opposite the Alexander Nevsky monastery. The monument was a majestic bronze statue of the Emperor at full length, in a simple cloak, covering the General's uniform. In one hand the Emperor was holding a scroll - a set of laws, and the other was holding a sword hilt. Foot he stepped on the body of a snake, as a symbol of victory over Napoleon, at the feet of angels was located, as if pointing to his angelic nature. No less majestic and was a three-tiered granite pedestal, which led by 14 steps. The total weight of the monument was 100 pounds (1600 kg)! Later in 1837 around the monument was installed cast-iron pedestals with heavy chains, and in 1888 around the monument broke the square, enclosed by wrought iron fence.

Unfortunately, after the revolution, in 1920, the monument was demolished in 1932 bronze sculpture sent to be melted down and only thanks to preserved in St. Petersburg drawings we can represent its true size and the art of its implementation.

To the 300 anniversary of Taganrog was decided to restore the monument. In September 1998, when a large concourse of citizens opened a modern monument to Emperor Alexander I. In a new sculptural decision, the snake disappeared, as not relevant in the opinion of sculptors attribute, disappeared cupids, and the monument from the center of the square moved to its edge. After a few years around the monument was restored chain on pedestals that emphasized his perfection. On the front side of the monument – the laconic inscription: "Alexander I. 1830".

The monument to Alexander I in Taganrog was another historical and cultural landmark of the seaside town.