The two-story house number 21 on Petrovka Street is an excellent example of the first income houses that began to appear in Moscow in the 1870s. These early income houses did not exceed the height of old mansions and harmoniously blended into the surrounding architecture.

In the 1730s-1740s, the plot was part of the extensive estate of Senator V. Novosiltsev, whose children sold it to A. Nekrasov, the great-grandfather of the famous poet.

After Nekrasov's death, his widow divided the plot into two. The small part that became house 21 was owned at different times by Moscow merchants Shustov, Shemyakin, Prokhorov, and finally, the Sokolovs. In the mid-19th century, the ends of two two-story houses adorned with atlantes faced Petrovka.

The atlantes attracted visitors to the shops on the ground floors and also served as advertising for the plaster workshop of Sevryugin, located in the courtyard.

One of the premises housed the "Carriage Establishment of Umbrecht."

In the 1870s, the house was owned by merchant of the 2nd guild A. Sokolov. In 1876, he commissioned architect P. Skomoroshchenko to develop a project for a new income building. This architect also built the house of the Trinity Monastery in Kitai-Gorod.

The house housed a factory for lamps and bronze products owned by the Sokolov brothers, founded back in 1848. Part of the premises was occupied by the case workshop of Ivanchikov and Grinberg, known since 1865.

The two-story house in eclectic style, adorned with elegant stucco and three kokoshniks on the roof, still attracts the attention of passersby. The massive cast-iron gates of its passage arch have been preserved since the time of construction.

In the 19th century, doctors working in the clinic located in house 19 rented rooms in the house. In the 1880s, pharmacologist and therapist Professor V. Bogoslovsky lived here.

In the early 1900s, part of the premises was occupied by a culinary school.

The Sokolovs owned the house until the 1917 revolution.

In the 1920s, the house was home to poet, writer, Civil War participant, and commander of the Red Army K. Bolshakov.