The ensemble of the bell tower "Ivan the Great," located between the Cathedral and Ivanovskaya squares, serves as the compositional center of the Kremlin. Its construction lasted over three centuries, from 1505 to 1815, and includes three objects from different eras: the bell tower of Ivan the Great, the Assumption Bell Tower, and the Filaret Annex.

The bell tower was built in 1505-1508 by the Italian architect Bonifacio Friazino. A century later, an additional tier of bells was added, reaching a height of 81 meters. This is evidenced by the inscription under the dome with the date 1600 and the names of Tsar Boris Godunov and his son Fyodor. In 1532 and 1552, a church was erected next to the bell tower according to the project of the Italian architect Petrok Maloy, which by the end of the 17th century became the bell tower known as the Assumption Bell Tower. In 1624, Bazhen Ogurtsov added a bell tower with a tented top, known as the Filaret Annex.

In 1812, the retreating troops of Napoleon blew up the ensemble, but the pillar of Ivan the Great withstood. The bell tower and Filaret Annex were destroyed, but they were restored to their former appearance in 1814-1815. Today, the bell tower and the bell tower house 24 bells from the 16th and 17th centuries.

On the first floor of the Assumption Bell Tower is an exhibition hall of the Museums of the Moscow Kremlin, showcasing artworks from the Kremlin collection and other museums in Russia and the world. A museum dedicated to the history of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin is open in the bell tower of Ivan the Great. The exhibition features authentic fragments of white stone decor from ancient Kremlin buildings, known only from chronicles. The museum tour is accompanied by audio guides, after which visitors can access the bypass gallery and enjoy views of the Kremlin and its surroundings from above.