Grodno state historical-archaeological Museum was opened on 9 December 1922 in the house of the former Vice Governor at the initiative and under the guidance of a renowned historian, archaeologist and local historian józef Jolkovskogo. He laid the Foundation for an impressive Museum collections, conducting archaeological excavations of the Lower Church of the XII century, collecting unique pieces of art, old books and coins.

In 1926 the Museum was filled with a collection of insects, minerals and shells that had been brought from America and given to the Museum by Stanislav Zhivnogo. Now natural the exposition is located in the branch of the Museum in the New castle.

Unfortunately, in the years of the Nazi occupation during the great Patriotic war Museum funds suffered from predatory plundering invaders. The renovation of the Museum began immediately after the liberation of Grodno from Nazi troops. The doors of the Museum was reopened to visitors already in 1945.

Now Grodno state history and archive the Museum has one of the most impressive collections in the Republic of Belarus. Its assets total more than 190 thousand exhibits.

The main exposition is located in the Old castle – the Palace of king Stefan Batory (XVI century). In 19 rooms you can see the history of Grodno and nature of Grodno oblast. There are permanent exhibitions: "the most Ancient monuments of Panamania", "Grodno, discovered by archaeologists, History and culture of the region in the XIII-XIX centuries", "Grodno antiquity", "From the first to the second world war", "the Grodno region during the great Patriotic war", "the nature of the country". A branch of the Museum in the New castle has 9 rooms with permanent exhibitions: "New castle. Events and destiny", "Saved values", "the Wonderful world of nature. The inhabitants of the land and oceans", "Weapons of the past centuries". Museum of the history of Gorodnitsa on the activities of the Grodno warden Anthony tizengauza. Permanent exhibition: "Building of Gorodnitsa and Royal manufactory".