[1][2] In the second half of the 18th century, a section of Tverskaya Street near Voznesensky Lane was severely damaged by the Trinity Fire.

Most historians attribute the authorship of the project to Matvey Kazakov, but some researchers believe that he only carried out engineering work according to the plan of an unknown architect.

The estate served as the personal residence of Count Zakhar Chernyshev, who by the time the work was completed took the post of Governor General of Moscow.

It had an enfilade layout: after climbing the main staircase, decorated with copper balusters, visitors found themselves in the White Hall.

Its walls were decorated with marble and figured bas-reliefs, the floor was covered with stacked parquet with dark oak inlay.

By that time, it received the name "Tver State House, occupied by the Governor General" and was one of the largest administrative buildings outside the Kremlin walls.

According to rumors, the swindler Pavel Speyer, who ran the Jacks of Hearts Club, infiltrated one of these evenings under the guise of a wealthy landowner.

The next day, Speyer visited the house, accompanied by an English nobleman, and examined the estate under the supervision of the official on duty.

As it turned out later, the fraudster introduced himself as the owner of the residence and entered into a sale deal with the foreigner, but the accompanying person could not understand this, since he did not know English.

[8][9] During the tenure of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich as governor, the building underwent a large-scale reconstruction under the leadership of architect Nikolai Sultanov.

The estate was equipped with running water, a heating system, electricity, two elevators were installed, and the stables were rebuilt into a garage.

At the order of the prince, an exhibition of portraits of all Moscow mayors was organized, as well as a collection of gifts donated to the city administration.

After the October Revolution, the former residence of the Governor General was occupied by the headquarters of the Red Guards and the Military Revolutionary Committee.

Later, this event formed the basis for the painting of the same name by Dmitry Nalbandyan, and was also immortalized on a commemorative plaque installed on the wall of the building.

In order for the old walls of the lower floors to withstand the load of the superstructure, they were tightened with a massive metal-brick belt, masking it from the outside with a wide cornice.

During the work, decorative elements of the facade, wrought iron fences and balcony grilles were repaired, the roofing was partially renewed, drainpipes were replaced, and expansion joints in places of vertical cracks were eliminated.