Tashkent was conquered by the Czar's armies in 1863. By the mid-19th century it was a prosperous trading town. Tashkent has the appearance of a modern city, owing mostly to its near-total reconstruction following the 1966 earthquake.
Many new buildings have white columns and turquoise domes.
The broad, tree-lined streets and boulevards, parks and fountains make Tashkent a pleasant city for a visit. This lovely expanse of the city is surrounded by public buildings and curtains of perennial fountains. At the site of some of the fountains there once stood a beautiful Orthodox church and bell tower demolished by the Soviets in the 1930s. After independence a giant globe with a map of Uzbekistan on its face replaced the statue of Lenin. Independence Square is the stage for the yearly, September 1st, Independence Day celebration, complete with fireworks, and Uzbek singers and dancers.