Historical and archaeological Museum-reserve was founded in 1879. Opened it ethnographer and historian E. D. Felitsyn, whose name it now bears this Museum. Initially, the Museum was called the Kuban army ethnographic and natural history Museum. In the 70-ies of the twentieth century was its connection to the Krasnodar state historical and local lore, Anapa and Temryuk local history museums, Stepanovs house, and the House-Museum of M. Y. Lermontov and the Archaeological Museum in Taman. After this event, the Museum acquired its current name.

In historical and archaeological Museum-reserve them. E. D. Felitsyn are many collections that introduce visitors to the life of the peoples and tribes living previously on the territory of Kuban. It is widely disclosed to the history of the Kuban Cossacks, because the Museum has more than 420 thousand objects. Special attention deserves the Golden Treasury, showing the old goods made of precious metals.

The building of the Museum-reserve is a luxurious mansion, which was built under the order for brothers Barsukova in 1901. Its architecture combines classical style and Baroque. The interior is rich in marble and wrought with floral ornaments. During the Civil war, the building housed the headquarters of the Volunteer army of General Denikin, after the revolution it was used as an ambulance of the red Army. Then the halls of the mansion were occupied by departments of the NKVD. In 2006, the authorities took the decision on the restoration work, and just two years later the Museum building has already been recognized as the best restoration of the object at a national competition.

At the present time the Krasnodar Museum-reserve is known as the largest Museum Association in the Northern Caucasus region, which is included in the list of objects of national significance.