In 2010, a house-museum dedicated to Gavriil Stepanovich Batenkov, a renowned engineer and Decembrist who participated in the wars against Napoleon, opened in Kaluga. After being released from exile, he lived in this city for seven years. The wooden building, constructed in the first half of the 19th century, was acquired by Batenkov from the landlady Efimova in 1857, and it became his final refuge.

The building survived the Soviet years, but the state did not pay it much attention, despite the fact that a famous Decembrist lived here. In reality, Batenkov did not support the radical Decembrists; he advocated for constitutional monarchy and the abolition of serfdom. For decades, the house housed communal apartments, and its condition left much to be desired. Thanks to the efforts of local historians, the building was preserved and transferred to the local history museum. During the restoration, the area of the house was increased by an extension that is part of a multi-story building located on the territory of Batenkov's former estate.

The museum features a small permanent exhibition of Batenkov's personal belongings, while the rest of the house is used for temporary exhibitions. From 2012 to 2016, the museum's exhibition was dedicated to the events of the 1812 war, and since August 24, 2016, a new exhibition has been operating, dedicated to the 240th anniversary of the Kaluga province.