Formerly, it served as the town hall (Rathaus in German and ratusz in Polish, hence the name) and now houses the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional History, Crafts and Culture Museum and an observation deck.

[2] The current design was created in the 1920s by Polish architect Stanisław Trela, while the original building was built when the city was founded, in the 17th century.

[3] Presumably that was a temporary structure as in 1672 it was replaced by a nine-story tall building made out wood and rock of the late Renaissance style.

On the level of a fifth floor on each of its tower four sides were placed clocks that every 15 minutes would engage a system of bells installed underneath the dome.

There also was a single entrance from the western side through a gate upon which was placed a family coat of arms of Potocki.

Originating on the southern side it spread throughout the rest of the city burning down the ratusz as well.

Inside of the foundation was placed a capsule with a parchment about the history of the rathaus and old Polish and Austrian coins and medals.

The new rathaus was in the form of a massive two-story building with a tall tower (preserved from the previous design).

During World War I in February 1915 several military engagements took place in the vicinity of Stanisławów, from which the rathaus received numerous cracks.

At the intersection of the cross rises a tower topped with a dome which is reminiscent of a military helmet.

Unlike the previous versions of the building, it was not used as a town hall, but rather as a symbolic representation of the past.

The space in the building was leased to numerous stores which, after the "Golden September" (the Soviet term for the invasion of Poland in 1939), were closed.

The Germans managed, however, to blow up its northwestern wing; they ran out of time to destroy the rest of the building.