The museum was created to perpetuate the memory of L.N. Tolstoy in Kazan, with Kazan period of the writer's life (1841-47). 2003, "The concept of establishing a museum of L.N. Tolstoy in Kazan" was prepared, it identified the priorities and perspectives of the museum in the socio-cultural space of the city. Nowadays the work on the concept of the museum is being conducted. Among the main objectives there is the task to provide multiple connections Tolstoy's family with Kazan, to reveal the main points of Leo Tolstoy's Kazan life: his years of study in Kazan Imperial University, the surrounding, activities, Tolstoy's late arrivals to Kazan, architectural, cultural and historical appearance of Kazan of 40-ies of XIX century; to reveal Kazan motives in Leo Tolstoy's creative work.

    The formation of museum collections is implemented. 2006, a personal library of a doctor of philological sciences, professor, honored worker of culture of Russian Federation K.N. Lomunov, who devoted more than 70 years of his life to the study L.N. Tolstoy's life and creative work was transferred as a gift to the museum. The museum received materials from archaeological excavations on the territory of the estate, purchased items of household culture of the second half of the XIX century due to the republican target program "Miras-heritage". The restoration of the future museum building- the main building of the Gortalovys'estate is on the final stage.

    To the L.N. Tolstoy's 175th anniversary Museum created a traveling exhibition "To live honestly ..." (Tolstoy and Tolstoys in Kazan), which together with its electronic version is shown in different museums of the republic. For details about the exhibition, please, visit http://www.tatar.museum.ru/nm/exh_12.htm.

    The museum appreciates any cooperation in the establishment and formation of collections