One of the oldest buildings in the city of Uralsk is Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, construction of cathedral has been begun in 1741, in ten years in 1751 the cathedral has been consecrated and in is mute church services have begun to pass.

Initially, on the cathedral place in 1705-1706 and it is a small wooden church which was built by unknown masters. In 1723 the fire has destroyed a wooden structure. In two years in 1725 residents, the new wooden church is built.

In 1740 the decision to build the capital brick temple instead of the wooden church has been made. Cathedral of the Archangel Michael has been put in 1741. It is possible to call the creation of Cathedral really national building. In order that to construct it, Cossacks have at own expense put brick-works nearby in the beginning.

Construction was headed by the master of the city of Novgorod, unfortunately, his name in the history hasn't remained, however, it is precisely known that the temple has been built in Pskov-Novgorodsky style. It is known that the foundation of the temple has been laid in 1740, and construction has been completed only in six years.

The building is built in traditions of the Russian temple architecture, except for the four-level bell tower built from North side in Gothic style.

The history of Cathedral of the Archangel Michael is inseparably linked with Pugachev's rebellion events. By the settled tradition locals call this temple — Old cathedral.

In 1774 in the heat of a revolt in the fortress of Cathedral of the Archangel Michael one thousand soldiers faithful to Ekaterina under command of the colonel Simonov and the captain Krylov defended. Troops of the country army led by E. Pugachev made numerous attempts of the storm, but couldn't take cathedral.

There is a legend according to which already captivated E. Pugachev delivered to the city where he has been put in a closed cage and is chained to a wall of the cellar of Cathedral of the Archangel Michael. When he was conducted to the cathedral, Pugachyov looking at his domes, I have sighed: "Eh, I haven't managed to take you …"

It is for certain known that in the fall of 1833 from September 21 to September 23 the Old cathedral was visited by A.S. Pushkin. Except him, the Cathedral was visited Krylov I.A., Suvorov A.V., Zhukovsky VA., Korolenko V.G., Dahl V. A.

Being successors of emperors, in him, the Russian emperors Alexander II and Nicholas II prayed.

After the revolution of 1917, in the years of civil war and in the early thirties the cathedral opened repeatedly and closed. In 1940 in the Old Cathedral, the anti-religious museum has opened.

In 1943 the Cathedral has been returned to believers and till 1961 in him, church services were made. Since 1961 according to the order of local government, the cathedral has been closed and till 1966 was empty. From 1966 to 1988 in it, there was a regional museum of local lore. The city authorities for this period have carried out repair of a roof and domes of the cathedral.