The gymnastics society “Sokil” was established in Lviv, modeled after the Czech “Sokol.” The founding meeting took place on March 25, 1867, in the meeting hall of the Lviv City Council. For a long time, “Sokil” did not have its own premises and was located in rented spaces in different parts of the city. Finally, thanks to the assistance of the Society's long-time chairman, journalist Jan Dobrzanski, and his personal financial support, “Sokil” acquired its own building at 8 Zymorowicza Street (now D. Dudayeva Street), built in 1884 by architect Vladislav Halitsky. By the end of the year, the first inaugural exercises were held in their own hall, whose exemplary equipment was also a gift from Jan Dobrzanski. In 1898, with the aim of expansion, a plot of land adjacent to the building at 7 Sokol Street (now P. Kovzhun Street) was purchased. Architect Alfred Kamenobrodsky carried out the reconstruction and merger of this building with the Sokol building. At the end of the 19th century, the society did not yet have its own stadium, so, going out onto Akademichna Street (now Shevchenko Avenue), rows of Sokol members crossed the city center and went to a designated place where their gymnastic exercises took place.