It is one of the bright sightseeing sites of the city. The building was constructed as Aksakov’s National House on the volunteer donations that were collected from the whole Russian Empire. It was built according to the project of the Russian architect Rudavskoy, the interiors of the building were planned by the architect Bondarenko. In 1909 the National House in the memory of the native of Ufa Sergey Aksakov (1791–1859) was founded. It was supposed to be a centre of education and culture. The building was being completed in 1928–1935 according to the project of the architect Bai. There are two styles mixed in the building: from the side of Lenin Street is Russian classicism, from the side of Pushkin Street – an eastern Asian, close to the Moresque style. It is a twostored building from stone; the entrance is from Lenin Street.
In the first project the decoration of the building was rich, but then it was simplified. In 1985–1987 the reconstruction of the building took place, in 1993 the facade of the building was decorated with the allegoric brass figures of Terpsichore and Euterpa (sculptor Z.R. Basirov).
In 1914 there was Aksakov’s library, in the years of the First World War – a hospital, in 1922–1965 – the Bashkir Academic Drama Theatre, simultaneously in 1932-1976 – the Bashkir State Puppet Theatre, since 1938 – the Bashkir State Theatre of Opera and Ballet.
In the years of the Great Patriotic War evacuated to Ufa Kiev Theatre of Opera and Ballet named after Shevchenko performed here. Bashkir singers and dancers participated in its performances "Ivan Susanin", "Aida", "Swan Lake" together with Ukrainian actors. Since then over 200 premieres of opera and ballet have taken place there.
A prominent dancer of the second half of the XX century, Rudolf Nureyev, went on the professional stage for the first time in this theatre. Since 1993 an annual ballet dance festival in the memory of Nureyev takes places every year in the theatre. There is also a museum in the theatre.
