The house is a masterpiece of the art-nouveau style of architecture. It was built for the merchant Riabushinski at the beginning of the 20 th century. The museum is interesting both as a Gorki museum and as an architectural monument. The museum is unique for its great collection of musical instruments of all times and nations. There is an interesting archive and a manuscript division as well.
All musical instruments are in the working order.
There is a concert hall in the museum where one can enjoy music of different epochs. Some special tours devoted to a certain epoch can be arranged there. The mansion has been preserved just as it was at the times when Leo Tolstoy lived there with his family from 1882 to 1901. It was built in 1808 and survived the Napoleon invasion. For nearly 20 years the writer spent the winter months there, leaving for Yasnaya Poliana in the summer.