What makes the small town of Kyshtym famous throughout Russia? Primarily, its metallurgical factories and the legend of the Kyshtym dwarf. However, few know about its main attraction, the estate of Nikita Demidov, better known as the White House, which is even depicted on the coat of arms of Kyshtym. The history of the town and the estate began in the 1750s when Nikita Demidov's father sent him on a risky journey to purchase land from local Bashkirs for the construction of new factories. Near the Kyshtym River, Demidov found rich deposits of iron ore and soon began building factories.

Planning a long life in these places, Nikita Nikitich decided to build a luxurious and cozy estate for himself. He entrusted the design of the house to architect Matvey Kazakov, who at the time was involved in the reconstruction of central Moscow. The ensemble included the main house, two wings, a tower, a park, and a fence, all made of wild stone. However, Demidov did not get to enjoy this splendor; he died suddenly a year later.

A new chapter in the building's history began in 1809 when it was purchased by Ural merchant Lev Rastorguev. Apparently, he did not like the previous appearance of the estate, and he commissioned architects to change the style, giving the house features of classicism. The main facade was adorned with a four-column portico of the Corinthian order on an arcade.

In the early 20th century, the estate became a museum. Collections of minerals, iron ore, samples of the best products from local factories were exhibited here, and in the historical department stood the bed on which Alexander I slept during his journey through the Urals. There were also gruesome exhibits, such as a weight with a chain for punishing serfs, which was placed on the offender, forcing them to work with it all day. During the Soviet era, it housed a nursing school, then a Pedagogical Institute, and since 1979 it has been a museum again, while currently, the building is under restoration.