The largest Museum of the North region is considered to be the Vologda state historical-architectural and art Museum-reserve, which is part of the ensemble of ancient monuments 16-19 centuries in the Vologda Kremlin. Historical development of the Museum begins with the 19th century. The first Museum was opened in the city, was "Peter's house", which began its work in 1885. During 1896 in Vologda was discovered diocesan Repository, and in 1911 the opening of the art gallery and Museum studies. March 13, 1923 in accordance with the decision of the Vologda gubernia Executive Committee all existing museums were merged into one, called "Vologda State United Museum". According to the Council of Ministers of 1988 was formally established by the Vologda state historical-architectural and art Museum-reserve.

Stock collection of the Vologda Museum includes more than 450 thousand exhibits. The collection of religious carvings and wood sculpture is noted for its vast geographic expanse. The exhibition presents statuary, pectoral, iconostasis sculpture, small plastic 16-19 centuries, and decorative carving of the lost city of the iconostasis. The Museum houses one of the most unique collections devoted to old Russian paintings, numbering about 4 thousand exhibits. It presents: "the old Testament Trinity" icon "Dmitry Prilutsky" and "assumption", belonging to the 15th century.

The Museum has a collection of oil painting in which an important role is the provincial secular and clerical portraits 18th and 19th century are closely associated with paransky tradition of painting, and painting miniature portrait 19th century. Graphic collection is characterized by unique exhibits foreign charts that were obtained from local estates. The collection presents the work of N. And. Demetrius, G. N. Burmakin, V. I. Bee.

The most comprehensive collection of fabrics are ethnographic collections, which indicate all features of the folk costume of almost all districts of the Vologda region. The collection includes samples of clothing 17-20 centuries, for example, women's old costume, composed of blouses, shirts, head scarves and religious items. The Museum has about 3500 units: peasant lace, Golden lace, the product of Soviet times.

Collection of everyday of the tree is represented by a collection of spinning wheels not only Vologda, and Arkhangelsk regions. There is a collection of implements of husbandry, agriculture, fluxing, and various other crafts. The ceramics collection has thousands of items 4 and reflects the collection velikoustyuzhskogo tiles and porcelain, glassware and pottery items.

In the archaeological Fund collections and articles describing the development of social relations and culture of the Mesolithic and the middle ages. Also the Museum has a collections of numismatics, photographs and negatives, pearl jewelry, metal and book Fund.