The article considers the historical and cultural role of memorial chapels in Altai, in particular in the period of XIX - early XX century, shows relations between the chapels with the Old Russian tradition, environment, and settlement planning and cultural landscape. An attempt is made to develop typology of rural chapels based on the events and the phenomena connected with their dedication. It is possible to distinguish the following types of dedications: in memory of events from life of an imperial family (in wonderful of miraculous disposals, in memory of death of emperors, in honor of coronation of reigning persons); in memory of the tragic elements and epidemics; in honor of various anniversaries; in memory of visits and visits of famous persons; in honor of perpetuation of memory of various associates; in memory of tragic events; in memory of the former sites of temples and other memorable places (bow cross, cross-chapels). The analysis of the material allows drawing the conclusion on the greatest distribution of dedications of the chapels connected with an imperial family and different events of rural life.