The largest museum just north of the area is considered to Vologda State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve, which is part of the ensemble of ancient monuments of 16-19 centuries in the Vologda Kremlin. The historical development of the museum begins with the 19th century. The first museum, which was opened in the city, became a "house of Peter", which began its work in 1885. Throughout 1896 in Vologda it was opened diocesan Drevnehranilische, and in 1911 the opening of art galleries and museums rodinovedeniya. March 13, 1923 according to the decision of the executive committee of the Vologda all existing museums were merged into one, called "The Vologda State Museum." According to the Council of Ministers of 1988 it was formally established Vologda State Historical-Architectural and Art Museum-Reserve.

Stock Vologda museum collection includes more than 450 thousand exhibits. Collection of religious carvings and wood sculptures differ extensive geographical coverage. The exhibition presents statuary, kiotnuyu, iconostasis sculpture, small plastic ages 16-19, as well as decorative carvings lost urban iconography. The museum is one of the most unique collections dedicated to the ancient Russian painting, numbering about 4 thousand exhibits. It presents the "Old Testament Trinity" icon "Dmitry Prilutsky" and "Assumption", referring to the 15th century.

The museum has a collection of oil paintings, which occupy an important role provincial secular and klirovye portraits of 18-19 century, which are closely linked to parsunskoy picturesque tradition, as well as a miniature portrait painting of the 19th century. Graphic collection is characterized by the unique exhibits of foreign plots, which were obtained from the local manors. The collection includes works NA Demetrius, GN Burmagina, VI Pchelina.

The most comprehensive collection of fabrics make ethnographic collections that point to all the features of folk costumes of almost all areas of the Vologda region. The collection features samples of clothes of 17-20 centuries, for example, female Old Believers suit composed of sweatshirts, shirts, head scarves and religious objects. The museum has about 3,500: peasant lace, lace goldwork, the product of the Soviet era.

Collection of domestic wood is a collection of spinning wheels not only Vologda, and Arkhangelsk regions. It has a collection of guns ranching, farming, flax, as well as a variety of other industries. Collection of pottery has 4000 items and the collection reflects Velikoustyuzhsk tiles and porcelain, tableware and pottery.

The archaeological fund holds collections and objects that characterize the development of social relations and work culture of the Mesolithic and the Middle Ages. Also, the museum has a collection of numismatics, photographs and negatives, pearl jewelry, metal, and the book fund.