The Grand Kremlin Palace, replacing a previous baroque palace designed by Rastrelli (1700–1771), was built between 1837 and 1849, under the supervision of Russian architect Konstantin Ton (1794–1881). It contains five large reception rooms named after the Orders of the Russian Empire, with St George’s Hall being the largest.

The palace played an important role during the celebrations connected with the coronation of Alexander II in 1856, as recorded in contemporary accounts. Lieutenant Colonel G.A. Maude (1817–94), a military attaché with the British diplomatic mission, described St George's Hall's complex system of illumination with each candle connected to another, as shown in this photograph, so that 'the flame [would run] from candle to candle in the prettiest manner possible [and] the whole of St. George's Hall, which had 2,300 candles in it, [would] lit up in 7 minutes.'