In the late 15th century, Ivan III decided to renovate the dilapidated white-stone Kremlin built during Dmitry Donskoy's reign. In 1485, Anton Fryazin began constructing a shooting gallery at the site of the Cheshkov Gates. A secret well was dug here, leading to a river, which gave the tower its name. Thanks to this well, during the siege of the fortress, defenders could access water, complicating the capture of the Kremlin. Inside the tower was a spacious room with vaulted ceilings. The shooting gallery connected the tower to a stone bridge, and there were also access gates with a special drawbridge.

The first documented image of the tower dates back to the early 17th century. At that time, it was covered with a wooden roof, above which was a clock room with a bell. The shooting gallery, adorned with machicolations and battlements, was topped with a wooden tent.

Guards were stationed at the Secret Tower, monitoring fire safety in Moscow. They raised the alarm and rang the bells upon noticing smoke or fire in the streets of the capital.

Over time, Moscow changed, and the Secret Tower underwent modifications. In 1770-1771, due to plans for the construction of the Kremlin Palace, the tower was dismantled, and in 1783 it was restored, but without the shooting gallery. In 1812, it was damaged by explosions, and between 1816 and 1818 it was rebuilt again. In 1862, the shooting gallery was restored in the style of the 17th century.

From 1930 to 1933, the tower underwent restoration: the shooting gallery was dismantled again, the well was filled in, and the access gates were bricked up from the outside.