The Yaroslavl Museum fist opened its doors on January 25 1865 and Alexander S. Petrovsky, professor of natural history and one of the museum's original founders became its director. In its nearly century-and-a-nalf existence the museum has been repeatedly changed reorganized and relocated. Currendly, the museum is composed of the Yaroslavl Our Savior-Transfiguraition Monastery (or Hierarchs' Residence) founded in the 12 century art: the Church of Elijah Prophet? The Church of the Epiphany, the Church of St. Nicolas Nadein, the Church of St. John the Baptist, and the Church of the Nativity of Christ.

    Further branches of the Yaroslavl Museum include the Memorial Museum of Leonid V. Sobinov. The museum of Battle Fame, and museum "Kosmos", dedicated to Valentina Tereshkova, the first female Russian astronaut. The ground of the our Savior-Transfiguraition Mohastery house the museum's main expositions, including an important work of medieval Russian literature, the twelfth-century epic poem "Lay of Igor's Campaign". This singular manuscript was kept by the monastery until its discovery in the 18 century by famous collector Count Musin-Pushkin. The Yaroslavl museum's entire collection includes over 300,000 pieces, which reflect the cultural history of Yaroslavl. Of particular value are the pieces from monastery and church sacristies and libraries, including rare paintings and printed books of the 12-20 centuries, icons of the 16-19 centuries, ornamental needlework and fabric of the 15-19 centuries, gold and silver from the 16-19 centuries, folk art and provincial portraits, an archeological natural science collection, and numerous documents and photographs.

    The Yaroslavl museum is a flourishing tourist center, located on Russia's Golden Ring. In 2005, the our Savior-Transfiguraition Monastery and the prominent churches of Yaroslavl were incorporated into United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.