Russian masters have long amazed the world with their craftsmanship in working with wood, although this material is not durable, and today not many wooden architectural monuments have survived. One interesting example of Russian architecture is the wooden house of artist Nikolai Nikolaevich Khokryakov, which was reconstructed based on an old building. The history of this monument dates back to pre-revolutionary times, when in the second half of the 19th century the father of the future famous artist Nikolai Khokryakov acquired a small estate. Subsequently, the property passed to the four children of the owner, including the artist himself. He inherited the wing where he worked and received guests. The house was always open to visitors, and Nikolai Nikolaevich was remembered by his fellow countrymen as a hospitable host and a generous person.

Nikolai Nikolaevich lived for 71 years, and in the last ten years of his life, he headed the local painting museum he founded. The artist was known beyond the city, and his guests included the Vasnetsov brothers, Ilya Repin, and other outstanding figures whose names are familiar to every educated person. Nikolai Nikolaevich passed away in 1928, and his wooden wing gradually fell into disrepair. When people remembered the artist, only the leaning walls and damp roof remained of the house. It was decided to open the Khokryakov Museum, but not in the old house, rather in its copy built in the 1990s. The museum was solemnly opened in 1998. The old workshop was completely lost, but the new house is adorned with carvings by contemporary masters and has become one of the main attractions of the city. Although it is no longer a sample of pre-revolutionary architecture, the museum deserves attention.