The mansion, built between 1859 and 1862 for A. L. Stieglitz, a well-known Russian financier and initiator of the establishment of the Central School of Technical Drawing and its museum, passed to his adopted daughter after his death. She later sold it to Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich, the uncle of Nicholas II.

Until 1968, various institutions were located in the building, after which it was placed under state protection for use as a museum. Restoration began in 1988, but due to events in the early 90s, it was not completed. The mansion again fell into private ownership and remained abandoned, leading to the deterioration of its interiors.

In 2011, the building was transferred to St. Petersburg State University.