The mansion known as the "Rector's House" was built in the 1740s in the center of Moscow and served as a palace estate for the Volkonsky princes. Its cultural history is rich and diverse, just like the people who lived there.

In the late 18th century, the Imperial Moscow University, now Lomonosov Moscow State University, acquired plots of old boyar estates on Mokhovaya, including the Volkonsky house, which preserved the architecture of the 17th-century chambers. A comparison of photographs from 1978 with Kazakov's drawings shows that these are two different monuments, although they are often combined in local literature. The question of the location of the Volkonsky chambers remains open.

In the early 19th century, the house became a residence for professors. When the position of rector was established at the university, P.I. Strakhov, who took the position in 1805, preferred an apartment in this house over the previous director's quarters. Soon the house began to be called the Rector's.

The "Rector's House" is hidden in the university courtyard and is a two-story building with lower floor windows partially embedded in the ground. It is the oldest building of the university, having survived the fire of 1812 thanks to Professor Shtelecer, who managed to protect it.

The house played an important role in the development of Russian science. Here lived the lawyer and theater figure N.N. Sandunov, who hosted Moscow actors. Professor I.A. Dvigubsky set up a meteorological observatory on the terrace, the results of which were published in the "Moscow Gazette." Here he worked on publishing a scientific journal, which featured works by Lomonosov and the first work by Herzen.

Rector A.V. Boldyrev provided part of his apartment to Professor N.I. Nadezhdin. According to F.I. Buslaev's recollections, the house housed the editorial office of the journal "Telescope," where in 1836 Chaadaev's "Philosophical Letter" was published, provoking a sharp reaction from the authorities.

In 1871, historian S.M. Solovyov became rector, who ceded his apartment for the physical laboratory of Professor A.G. Stoletov. It was here that Stoletov completed his work on the photoelectric effect and created the photoelement.

Prominent figures such as Zhukovsky and physicist Peter Lebedev, who measured light pressure, worked in this house. I.F. Usagin, who created the transformer, also worked here. These scientists elevated the teaching of physics at the university to a high level.

Physicists worked in the "Rector's House" for over 30 years. After the construction of the Physical Institute, the house became residential, housing renowned geologists A.P. and M.V. Pavlov.

The "Rector's House" acquired memorial significance for the history of science and culture. In the 20th century, its fate was sad: the building fell into disrepair. Despite a restoration project, investors proposed demolishing the house with "reconstruction." In 2004, the house was recreated with a glass roof.