The house, built for the family of Tomsk Governor Herman Augustovich Tobizen, first welcomed Tsarevich Nicholas, who spent only a couple of days there. The governors who succeeded each other lived in this house for less than a quarter of a century. During the revolutionary years, the building became a symbol of freedom and the headquarters of the Bolsheviks. However, the House of Scientists, located at 45 Soviet Street, has been here the longest and today represents a small town with its own theater, conference hall, council, and library.

Since its founding, Tomsk Province has experienced a shortage of experienced administrators, and all Tomsk governors came from St. Petersburg or Moscow, not staying long. From 1804 to 1889, the treasury provided them with rented housing. Only by the end of the 19th century was it decided to build a municipal governor's house, now known as the House of Scientists. Until that time, the state rented a mansion on the banks of the Ushayka River from gold miners, the Korolevs. This house, which offered views of the rivers and Tomsk meadows, was visited by G.S. Batenkov and Arctic explorer Baron Wrangel.

The first governor for whom a house was specially built in Tomsk was Herman Augustovich Tobizen. This was related to the relocation of the provincial administration to a new building in Novo-Sobornaya Square and the development of universities, which shifted the cultural and business center of the city to this area.

Tobizen's governorship coincided with the visit of Grand Duke Nicholas, the future emperor, to Tomsk. Tobizen organized all the preparations for his arrival, including the construction of a pavilion at the city entrance. By the time Nicholas II arrived, the governor's house was urgently being completed, which became his temporary residence. The house's design was commissioned from architects V.V. Khabarov and P.P. Naranovich. Khabarov, who arrived from Petersburg, was already serving as the provincial architect, while Naranovich was working on projects for the Siberian University.

Despite the involvement of two well-known architects, construction was delayed, but the arrival of the tsarevich accelerated the process. Additional funds were allocated to prepare the house for the high guest. By the time Nicholas II arrived, all twenty rooms were finished and furnished. The tsarevich arrived in Tomsk on July 5, 1891, spent two days in the city meeting with clergy and officials, and then left.

During the Great October Revolution, the governor's house became the House of Freedom, housing revolutionary organizations. Meetings of the Bolshevik faction and students were held here, and it served as the base for the Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. The house became the headquarters of the Red Guard, and the White Guards unsuccessfully attempted to seize it. The building also housed the editorial office of the newspaper "Red Banner."

After the uprising against Kolchak in December 1919, a red flag was raised on the building, and it became the location for the military-revolutionary council. In the 1920s, the house was handed over to scientists. During the Great Patriotic War, it served as the headquarters for the mobilization of science and technology.

The Tomsk House of Scientists became the third in Russia after Moscow and Petrograd. Its founder and first director was Nikolai Sigismundovich Poizner, assisted by actress Olga Pavlovna Boyarskaya. Since 1995, the House of Scientists has been part of Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR). In 2005 and 2006, with the support of the Tomsk region administration and TUSUR, major renovations were carried out in the building.