Before the October revolution it was the house of the governor-general.
From the house balcony the governor-general made announcements, read decrees and orders, greeted the Moscovites.
And opposite the house in 1918 there was a monument to Mihail Skobelev, erected for the popular money.
Skobelev was a hero of war with Turks for liberation of Bulgaria.
After the revolution the monument to the tsarist general was destroyed, and the new composition appeared in the square - obelisk of Constitution and statue of Liberty (sculptor N.A.Andreev).
In May 1941 this monument that did not please the authorities, was also destroyed.