The house with chimeras was built by the architect Gorodetskiy in 1903 on the former Bank of the drained Goat swamp. Many at the time thought was madness to begin construction on the cliff — so the house was originally the legends: it is said that Gorodetsky has started construction on a bet with other architects, who claimed that such breakage is impossible to build.

The drawings Gorodetsky Italian sculptor Elio Sala adorned the facade and interiors of the bizarre sculptures of sea monsters and exotic animals. There is a legend that sea monsters on the facade is a tribute to its architect drown daughter.

In a newly built house architect occupied one floor, the rest of the apartments offered for rent. Despite the very high price of the lack of customers was not. In 1913 Gorodetsky sold his mansion and subsequent years, the house changed its owners, and in the end, after the revolution the building was nationalized. Some time under Soviet rule in the house was a communal apartment, then made a hospital of the Central Committee of the CPU.

In 2003-2004 "House with chimeras" was restored: completely restored the interior of the building, including parquet flooring and painting. After the restoration of the "House with chimeras" has become a Small residence of the President of Ukraine.

Based Gorodetsky house created a Museum and cultural center "Masterpieces of Ukrainian art" as a branch of the National Museum. In the exposition center presents works of fine art, sculpture, decorative and applied art from the stock collections of the leading museums of Ukraine.