On one of the most famous embankments in Russia stands an ancient palace named after the outstanding General Police Chief of St. Petersburg, Nikolai Ivanovich Chicherin, who became the first owner of this magnificent building. The history of this place is unique. Here once stood a temporary Winter Palace, built by architect Rastrelli at the request of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. The palace was wooden and was dismantled after the construction of a permanent one, and the plot of land was gifted to Nikolai Ivanovich Chicherin, who soon began building his own palace. The four-story mansion, executed in the style of early classicism, amazed with its splendor. Unfortunately, the name of the project author is unknown, but its appearance somewhat resembles the Winter Palace, and there is a suggestion that the author could have been one of Rastrelli's students. In any case, the palace quickly became an integral part of the appearance of St. Petersburg and a true repository of the history of great people from different eras.

Nikolai Ivanovich Chicherin owned the palace until his death, after which the building changed several owners and was rebuilt multiple times, but it retained its original appearance. The most significant change was an extension made at the request of one of the owners, Prince Kurakin, a member of the State Council. The last major reconstruction of the palace took place in 1858 when it was acquired by the Eliseev family. First guild merchant Stepan Petrovich Eliseev spared no expense in improving the appearance of his home, and one of the best architects of that time, Nikolai Pavlovich Grebenka, worked on it. Since then, the building has not been seriously reconstructed, but throughout its history, it has witnessed the lives of many great people. In the 19th century, Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin often visited here, meeting his friends Griboedov and Kyukhelbekker, and in the early 20th century, the house housed a creative association. At the end of the Silver Age, the palace became a refuge for Gumilyov and many other talented individuals.