Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin was born in 1870 in Narovchat, a small town in the Penza province. When he turned three, his mother took him to Moscow.

Before leaving, she sold their house to the official Sokolovsky, who then resold it to the merchants Shlykov. In 1891, the house burned down, and a new building was erected on its foundation, known as the house of merchant Shlykov V. I.

In 1981, the A. I. Kuprin Museum opened in this house. The exhibition was created by educator and literary scholar P. A. Frolov, author of the book "A. I. Kuprin and the Penza Region," and art historian N. A. Kugel. The writer's daughter, Ksenia, donated family relics to the museum, including Kuprin's favorite coffee maker, an ashtray in the shape of a fish, editions of his books, as well as family portraits and photographs.

Although Kuprin spent only the first three years of his life in Narovchat and never returned there, his hometown left a mark on his work. It is mentioned in several of the writer's works, for example, the main character of the novella "The Duel," ensign Romashov, is from Narovchat.