The memorial museum of academician N.D. Zelinsky, an outstanding monument of the history of Russian science, is located in one of the buildings on the "back side" of the Old University on Nikitsky Lane. This building has a dual address: Mokhovaya Street, 11, building 3 and Nikitsky Lane, 2, which is related to its belonging to the complex of the Old University. The museum reminds us of significant moments in the history of Moscow University.

When Moscow University was founded in 1755, M.V. Lomonosov included the Medical Faculty, which quickly became the largest. In 1757, the estate of Prince Repnin on Mokhovaya was acquired for the University, where later an ensemble was built under the guidance of M.F. Kazakov. During the Patriotic War of 1812, it suffered significant damage but was restored in the style of Moscow Empire by D.I. Zhilyardi and A. Grigoriev.

The growth of the Medical Faculty led to its premises being scattered across Moscow. In 1884 and 1895, under the guidance of K.M. Bykovsky, a Clinical Campus of Moscow University was built in the Devichye Pole. However, part of the faculty remained on the historical territory of the Old University, where the Anatomical Theatre was built in the 1820s.

The modern building of the museum is based on a structure erected in 1836. Although there are no exact data on A.G. Grigoriev's leadership during its construction, it is assumed that he participated in the project after D. Zhilyardi's departure in 1832. In 1887, the building was reconstructed and raised by A.S. Kaminsky, as K.M. Bykovsky was busy with construction in Devichye Pole.

For many years, this building housed departments of the University’s Chemical Laboratory and apartments for teachers. From 1893 to 1950, the famous chemist academician N.D. Zelinsky lived here, the developer of the coal gas mask that saved many lives in World War I.

Zelinsky settled here after being elected a professor at the University. The museum was created at the initiative of his widow, N.E. Zelinskaya, an artist and student of M.V. Nesterov and D.N. Kardovsky. The reconstruction plans to preserve the planning structure and update the courtyard spaces by removing low-value buildings from the Soviet period.