On New Basmannaya Street in Moscow stands a mansion that may appear strict and calm, but inside it holds a rich history. It is not just an old house — it is a testament to the time when Moscow changed and its merchants became part of the city's cultural life.

The mansion was built in 1898–1899 by architect Michail Bugrowski for the first guild merchant and gold industrialist Nikolai Dmitrijewitsch Stachejew. The construction costs were an enormous sum for that time — about one million rubles, and the house combines various styles, from classicism to Gothic and Moorish decoration. The façade is designed in the "Neo-Greek" style, and inside there are magnificent halls and rooms.

Nikolai Dmitrijewitsch was born into a wealthy merchant family from Jelabuga, his mother was the biological sister of the landscape painter Shishkin, whom Stachejew supported throughout his life. The Stachejews traded in both foodstuffs and raw materials. Even Nicholas II owned shares in the Stachejew trading company.

After moving to Moscow, Nikolai Dmitrijewitsch began building apartment blocks, some of which still exist today; for example, Mayakovsky lived in one of them, and now there is the "Biblio-Globus" bookstore. He was also heavily involved in charity. The merchant made a significant contribution to the development of Alushta in Crimea. With his funds, a primary school, a church, a hospital, a port, and a school were built, the towers of the Aluston fortress were reinforced, and the promenade was beautified.

The political events at the beginning of the 20th century changed the fate of the house. After the 1917 revolution, the mansion was nationalised and handed over to the People's Commissariat for Transport, later becoming the Central House of Children of Railway Workers. During the Soviet era, various groups took place here, such as acting and dance groups. Many famous actors of the USSR learned here. Thanks to the careful maintenance by artists, the mansion remained in good condition, even the parquet is original, although hundreds of pairs of feet have danced on it. The house is a popular location among filmmakers.

Today, the Stachejew House is an object of cultural heritage of federal significance, a silent witness to the time when wealth and patronage were combined with an interest in art and culture. When passing by, one can imagine how, at the beginning of the 20th century, guests, artists, and collectors stepped through its doors, filling the halls with light and conversation.

The mansion reminds us that in the city there are not only streets and squares but also individual houses that tell stories — about people, their interests, and the time that has passed through these walls.