Kuznetsk fortress is a historical and architectural complex, which is one of the main attractions of the city of Novokuznetsk. The Museum is located on the territory of the ancient fortifications, built in the XVIII-XIX centuries It, in turn, is located on the hill of the ascension, which rises above the Kuznetsk district. Kuznetsk fortress is a sample of the Siberian military engineering of the end of the second half of the XVIII - beginning of XIX century.

The Museum was founded in 1991, the Museum occupies 21 hectares. this includes the fortress itself, and other historical and natural monuments, including the waterfall in a narrow canyon near vekhnetomskoe settlement redoubt of Kuznetsk of the citadel. The structure also includes more than a dozen architecture and military fortifications, preserved to varying degrees, as well as several archaeological sites of different types. The Museum will tell visitors about the military history of the region since ancient times, about the life and culture of the local population.

Around the perimeter of the citadel, which in its form resembles an elongated rectangle, is an earthwork with sponsons. On the corners of the fortress were built of stone, demi-bastions, two of them (Tomsk and Kuznetsk) lined with slabs of Sandstone. Between the demi-bastions constructed three-story brick tower, from where began the road to Barnaul.

The construction of the fortress began in 1800 and ended in 1820 the Construction was part of the fortifications, the main function of which was to deter aggressive actions of Qing China. However, in 1846 Kuznetsk fortress was taken from the balance of the war Ministry. Then there was organized a prison for criminals. The prison operated until 1919, when she was burned.

In June 1960, Kuznetsk fortress was given the status of a monument of national importance. In 1998, there has begun large-scale construction. In 2011, the Museum acquired the status of a Museum-reserve.