The Soviet landscape painter Alexander Mikhailovich Kamanin and the famous pilot Valery Pavlovich Chkalov were fellow villagers and both came from Vasilyov in the Nizhny Novgorod Governorate.

Kamanin began working as a graphic designer at a local shipyard, then went to study at the Surikov Institute in Moscow, and later started participating in regional and All-Union exhibitions. The main themes of his art were the nature of his native land, and the sights and views of the city of Gorky. His works include the painting “Near the Monument to Valery Chkalov”, which is housed in the museum.

The statue on the Volga slope was created by the famous sculptor Isaac Abramovich Mendelevich. He was a good acquaintance of Chkalov, fascinated by the energetic and daring pilot, who was viewed both as a hero and a scandalous figure. Mendelevich made it his goal to capture the image of Chkalov in sculpture.

Isaac Mendelevich was making a sculpture of Chkalov with great enthusiasm, and the heroic pilot was posing for him patiently. Modeling fascinated Chkalov. He willingly came to the workshop and followed the work process with great interest. Chkalov was extremely observant; he noticed every piece of clay that was successfully attached and rejoiced at the progress.

When the sculpture was ready, Mendelevich presented it to friends and colleagues to get their opinion. They noted details that were successful or not so much, expressed their opinions, and even argued.

Then, according to legend, Chkalov said,