National Youth and Children's Palace (Georgian: მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე), sometimes referred as Pioneer Palace, National Palace or by its original name – Viceroy's Palace, is a historical building located on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The history of the building dates back to 1802, when the establishment of the Russian government in Georgia was followed by the appointment of a Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus in Tiflis. A small building was built for him in 1802. However, in 1807 the building was demolished and replaced with a new one. It was an example of Russian classicism, the most grandiose building in Tbilisi at the time, which was also considered a kind of symbol of the government at the time. After that the palace was rebuilt several times. In 1818 it was demolished and a new building was designed by architect Brownmiller. With this change, the original administration house became the real palace-residence of the Commander-in-Chief. From 1845 to 1847, the architect Semyonov, invited from Russia, thoroughly changed the look of this whole palace and, in fact, built an interesting and unique building in the style of Classicism. At the same time, the palace garden and a fountain was built.

In 1865, Otto Jakob Simonson, a German architect working in Tbilisi, began a thorough reconstruction of the building and completed it in four years. In 1869, the Viceroy's palace took its final form - as it is today. Simonson significantly increased the palace built by Semyonov and gave it a new look.

During the various periods of Russian Imperial rule in Georgia, the palace was sometimes the residence and palace of the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus, and sometimes of the Viceroy.

In 1917, the palace housed the government of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. On May 26, 1918, the dissolution of the federation was announced in this palace. The National Council of Georgia, convened at the palace on the same day, declared Georgia's independence at 5:10 p.m. Two days later, the independence of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan was declared in the same palace. After that, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia housed in the palace. At the same time, the palace was first the seat of the National Council and then of the Constituent Assembly of Georgia. On February 21, 1921, the Constituent Assembly of Georgia adopted the Constitution of the Democratic Republic in this very palace.

After the sovietization of Georgia, the palace first housed the Georgian Revolutionary Committee, then the governments of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic and Soviet Georgia. In 1937 the palace was handed over to children. On April 2, 1941, the palace was opened for children.

According to the 1735 plan of Tbilisi drawn up by Vakhushti, the Digomi Road passed through the present-day Rustaveli Avenue, which started at the gate of the city wall. To the east of this road, on the slope, Vakhushti has mentioned the inhabited district, "Garetubani", which extended to the present Rustaveli Avenue, Freedom Square, Orbeliani Square and Tchanturia Street. This area, cultivated with the gardens and vineyards was left behind the castle walls of Tiflis. That is why the place was called Garetubani[Peripheries].

The history of the building dates back to 1802. As the Russian authority was established in Georgia, it was accompanied by appointment of Karl Knoring as the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus. Commander-in-Chief required a building where he would work and live. In the same year, an extensive garden of the outskirts, which belonged to the Georgian Royal Family was selected as a site for the construction of the Karl Knorring Residence. According to the survived sources, the place was promptly constructed by Georgian architects, under the guidance of military engineers. The extensive Administrative building, with the inscription "Правительственные места" [Governing place]is readable on the 1802 Tbilisi plan. 5 years later this palace was demolished and substituted with the new one. This was an example of Russian classicism and carried a symbolic significance of the new power. Later this building was several times remodeled.

The second building was demolished in 1818 and the new one was built according to the architect Braunmiller. Later the building was enlarged and the small rooms were substituted by the larger ones, private apartments of the emissary, studies, a pool-room, rooms for clerks, Winter Garden, etc. Initial administrative house was changed to the residence of the Commander-in-Chief.

In 1844, when the Russian authority introduced the position of the Viceroy, with Mikhail Vorontsov assigned to it, the palace no more satisfied ambitions of the Russian Czar's aggressive and imperialistic whims. The more noble he was, the brighter the palace had to be. Therefore, they commissioned architect Nikoloz Semionov who was a prominent person in Petersburg. During 1845-47 he drastically changed the outlook of the palace and actually he built an interesting and unique building in the style of classicism. As he changed the building, it acquired more attributes of classicism and there are some features proving it. Some sculptures of Hercules and Minerva emerged in the building and they indicated to the power and wisdom of the new government. A new garden and the water basin with fountains were built during those years. This park as a whole was referred as the “Palace Garden” and only the narrow group of the elite was admitted.

By the end of 1850 there was a strong desire to erect a new, even greater building for the Viceroy on the Gunib Square, where the present Parliament building stands, but realization of the project failed and they decided to remodel the old one. In 1865 the Swedish architect Otto Jacob Simonsson started to reconstruct the palace. Otto Jakob Simonson [de] lived in Tbilisi since 1858. He was invited from St. Petersburg, where he had been studying since 1854. After becoming the senior architect of Tbilisi, he developed a number of projects, including the one of Alexander's Garden (now known as "9th of April" park) and the reconstruction of the First Classical Gymnasium. Simonson started a thorough reconstruction of the palace with the minor alterations and completed in 1865–69, with the exact final shape it has today.

As for the palace, the contribution of Simonson is confirmed in scientific journals and researches. They note that the architect has significantly expanded the old residence of the Viceroy, moved its side wings forward, while the main facade was changed slightly. On the main floor, the central reception hall was altered and enlarged. In the North, he arranged a large foyer, including the festive staircase, a large dining room with a portico and a salon. While in the South, a working office of the Viceroy was located along with a reception and a living room, as well as an exhibition hall, with a terrace and a wide, open staircase to the garden. A bedroom and a boudoir of the Viceroy were overlooking the garden from the middle part of the building. He also added some supporting and entertainment rooms. The facade, typical to classicism, was treated by the Renaissance motifs, the walls were processed with stonework technique and beautified with Musharabi panels. The large dining room was designed in the Persian style, its walls encrusted and curved with ornamental mirrors. According to Simonson's ordinance, the ceiling was adorned with the stalactite niche just like in the working office, windows were filled with the colorful glass, the gilded chandeliers were hung in the hall, the living room, reception, foyer and the lobby were "decorated" with the black and colorful marble chimneys. The more festive look was given to the South facade, directed to the garden. Therefore, the 19th century Tbilisi acquired a public building distinctive with its high artistic value, given even more distinctive expression by the unique garden.