In the article the development of thin shell construction theory is considered according to the contribution of researchers, chronology, including the most accurate and simplified solutions. The review part of the article consists only of those publications which are related to the development of shell theory. The statement is based on the works of famous Russian researchers (V. V. Novozhilov, A. I. Lurie, A. L. Goldenweiser, H. M. Mushtari, V. Z. Vlasov), who developed the specified theory the most.