The Belgorod local history museum was created as a branch of the Kursk local history museum in 1924. But in 1954, after the Belgorod region was created, it became a separate museum.
At first the local history museum of Belgorod was in the bishop`s house of the Holy Trinity Monastery. However, during World War II the building and museum collections were destroyed as a result of bombardments.
Since 1964 the museum occupied the building of the Transfiguration Cathedral. But in 1991 the building was returned to the Church and became the main cathedral of the city and the museum was moved in a new building on Popov street.
A memorial sign is in front of the museum on the place of one of the four entrance pillars, which were on the south and north outskirts of the city. According to legend, they were erected at the end of 19 century - at the beginning of 20 century to commemorate the stay of Empress Catherine II (in 1787) and Emperor Alexander I (in 1820) in Belgorod.
The museum expositions are devoted to the history of Belgorod region from the earliest times to our days. At the museum one can see the things found during the diggings of the gorodishches of Scythian and Saltovo-Mayatsky cultures. Several museum halls are allocated for the exhibition «Returning the memory about the past…» devoted to the events of the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War.
