The Mariinsky Orphanage was founded on April 21, 1847, with the participation of Governor P.A. Bulgakov and was located on Bolshaya Street, where the Regional Children's Library is now situated. The orphanage was named in honor of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, whose estates were in the Tambov province. In 1844, a well-known philanthropist from Tambov, T.I. Lion, donated a wooden house for the orphanage but did not manage to furnish it. Her son, commercial advisor S.M. Lion, adapted the house for the needs of the orphanage and transferred the entire estate to it, located in one of the best areas of Tambov.

In 1876, the orphanage's board began the construction of a stone two-story building for the male and female departments. A total of 36,000 rubles was spent on the construction, funded by honorary citizen Sosulnikov from Kirsanov, the Tambov City Duma, and the board, using the interest from their capital. The opening and consecration of the new building with a house church in the name of Saint Mary Magdalene took place on October 7, 1879.