Perched on the top of the Balkan mountains, the monument was built as a location for representative meetings of the ruling communist party. It is located close to the location of a decisive battle of the Russo-Turkish War in 1877.

The Memorial was closed following the dissolution of the Bulgarian Communist government in 1989, and is deserted since about the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Since then it has become something of a tourist attraction. But it also fell into disrepair over the following decades: Vandalism and looting, including the removal of the copper roof covering and windows, took their toll on the building and made it vulnerable to the harsh weather conditions in the mountain region. There are several plans for renovation and conversion, but for a long time nothing happened. In 2018, it was declared one of the most endangered cultural heritage sites in Europe by Europa Nostra. In 2019, the Getty Foundation in Los Angeles has awarded a $185,000 grant for the  monument’s conservation, as part of its Keeping It Modern initiative. Despite these efforts, nothing concrete has happened so far and the monument is currently still in a poor condition (last updated on February 12, 2025).