The museum is located in the building where, in the early 20th century, the Kostroma mayor Gennady Botnikov lived. This "House of the Mayor" has been restored, and the interiors of the rooms have been recreated. The museum offers interactive tours for visitors.

Heavy curtains at the windows, carpets, and solid furniture, all these are exhibits, but without barriers or ropes. It feels like stepping not into a museum, but into the home of a prosperous Kostroma resident from the last century, who has just left the house, leaving an unread newspaper by the rattan chair.

Gennady Botnikov, an honorary citizen of Kostroma and its head, held this position for 14 years until 1912. He did much for the city: he established a telephone network, opened several schools, a labor house, and a library. In 1908, he built a mansion in the Art Nouveau style on Maryinskaya Street, now Sverdlova, covering an area of 350 square meters.

The idea to restore the building and create a museum belongs to Nikolai Kuzovlev. This Moscow businessman and philanthropist is engaged in the restoration of architectural monuments. The building was plastered, the window moldings were restored, and the decoration of all 10 rooms was updated. Antique furniture was purchased: oak cabinets, a Dutch sideboard with stained glass, marble tables, and German dishes.

Museum visitors can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of a social salon. Guests are welcomed in the hallway and invited to the dining room for tea, where, along with the story of the house and its owner, they can hear city news and gossip from a century ago. Themed programs, such as fortune-telling, are also held.