Gyumri is the second largest city of Armenia; and one time in history, it was the 3rd largest town in the Caucasus region. The first settlement arose here around 400BC, possibly by a Greek settlement. Over the years the town has taken on various names, this includes: ‘Alexandropol’ and ‘Leninakan’. The name ‘Alexandropol’ derives from Tsar Nicholas I wife, and was used in the Russian Empire. The name ‘Leninakan’ was used during the Soviet Union. Infamously, the town is known for experiencing one of the worst earthquakes in the 20th century. The ‘Spitak Earthquake’ occurred on the 11th of December 1988 with a magnitude of 6.8. Although the quake only lasted 20 seconds, it had devastating effects on the region; two major cities and 100 villages were completely destroyed. Armenia received international aid, and also a notable contribution from ‘Kirk Kerkorian’, an Armenian-American businessman, through his charity, the ‘Lincy Foundation’; which raised 1 billion US dollars. For this generosity, he was bestowed the title of National Hero of Armenia, and was given a statue in the town’s main street.