The cultural center of the Yasnaya Polyana museum is located in the historic center of the Zarechie district of Tula (Zarechie meaning a part of town across the river), at the intersection of the streets Oktyabrskaya and Lunacharskogo (formerly, Millionnaya and Georgievskaya streets), in two 18th-century buildings that has preserved the classical appearance characteristic of Russian town houses. These architectural monuments previously had been a municipal property; historically they are not related to Leo Tolstoy’s life.
The idea of the center was launched in 1994, when the museum directorship was taken over by Vladimir Tolstoy. In 1996, the museum’s Tourism Department began their work at the Cultural Center. In September 1997, the Yasnaya Polyana Art Gallery held its first exhibition, of paintings by Oleg Tolstoy. Besides, the cultural center now accommodates the Yasnaya Polyana Publishing House and the Secretariat of the Association of Museum Professionals.