The lower part of the Kremlin is located in an area with unfavorable hydrogeological conditions. There are underground water outflows and frequent landslides that have filled ancient ravines and gullies with sediment. In the area of the Zachatievskaya Tower, the thickness of these layers reaches 11-13 meters, which has caused constant destruction.

The first significant repair of the Kremlin was carried out in 1620 by Perusha Danilov, sent from Moscow, a hundred years after its construction. He added numerous buttresses to the spans and towers of the lower part. However, already in the 1621-1622 census book, the poor condition of the wall, through which people pass, is mentioned. Documents also refer to the Zachatievskaya Tower as a two-tiered structure, which may reflect its condition at that time when it was already deteriorating and partially being rebuilt. In 1646, voivode D. Lodygin and clerk G. Patrikeev reported on the destruction of both towers and walls in the area. The budget of Nizhny Novgorod merchant Semyon Zadorin for 1650-1651 states that the buttresses had crumbled, and the tower had settled and tilted downhill. His plan for hydraulic works and wall reconstruction using oak piles was not implemented.

In the 18th century, destruction continued. According to a description from 1765, two vaults of the passage collapsed at the tower, and the gates were bricked and logged up. After partial dismantling of the Zachatievskaya and Borisoglebskaya towers in 1785-1787, Governor Rebinder conducted repairs on the lower part of the Kremlin. In 1833, a thin brick wall was erected, and at the site of the tower, a descent to the Life-Giving Spring was arranged with guardhouses and windows imitating loopholes. In the 19th century, new destruction of the lower part began. In 1965, under the guidance of architect S.L. Agafonov, research on the tower began. Its remains were cleared, but then left to deteriorate. Around 1980, another clearing was conducted, allowing architect I.S. Agafonova to create graphic reconstructions of the tower.

In the 2000s, authorities actively promoted the idea of restoring the Kremlin ring. However, by that time, the Gorky Scientific Restoration Workshop had been closed, and opinions among the townspeople were divided: some supported the project, while others called for caution.

There were two options for the reconstruction of the tower: with gates on the front facade and with gates in the western side wall. Although there are no other examples of side gates in the Kremlin, there were hints at such a scheme here. The Zachatievskaya Tower had the widest internal gates, slanted to the west, which would facilitate vehicle maneuvering. The tower controlled a vulnerable section of the Kremlin, lacking a moat and fortifications. However, the option with a direct passage, more visually appealing, was chosen. Various design options for a pavilion that was to cover part of the ruins were proposed. The reconstruction of the medieval structure with authentic materials was not considered. Construction was carried out using modern technologies, and all fortification elements are imitations. As a result, a protective casing was created over the ancient ruins, the museum received additional space, and the perimeter of the Kremlin was closed off. Thus, the reconstructed tower serves as a modern museum space, externally resembling the Zachatievskaya Tower.