The former town hall is a building located in the heart of Krasnodar, on the Central Krasnaya street. The building's interesting architecture, typical for the beginning of the XIX century, built in 1882 by architect N. G. Sinapine. Originally it was a two-storied, and after world war II acquired a third, unfinished floor.

The building has endured a difficult but interesting fate, and is primarily associated with the events and characters who hit the walls. So, since 1903 it housed the City Council of the city of Ekaterinodar. Yes, that was the name of a locality based black sea Cossacks in 1793, first as a military camp and later as a fortress. It is named in honor of the donation of the Kuban land by Empress Catherine II, literally, the Gift of Catherine. The status of the city of Ekaterinodar was in 1867, became a large commercial and industrial and transportation center built in 60-70-ies of the XIX century the North-Caucasian railway. Renamed Krasnodar in 1920.

All issues of economic and cultural life of Ekaterinodar and later Krasnodar were solved within the walls of this building. One of the interesting periods of its history associated with the name of Ekaterinodar merchant Fedor Akimovich Kovalenko is an ardent art lover, who devoted his life and earned money to buy art works. His rich collection he donated to the city by founding the first in the South of Russia art gallery. City officials accepted the gift with gratitude and allocated to the gallery's small room in the building of the city administration. The Grand opening of the gallery with the literary and archaeological divisions occurred in April 1904. Here visitors pleased not only collected f.. Kovalenko works, but also exhibitions from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Odessa. The Museum has become popular, but apparently broke the quiet mode of operation of city agencies, so in 1907 he moved into the mansion engineer Surganova on loan.