The museum in Nizhny Novgorod, dedicated to the literary critic and writer Nikolai Alexandrovich Dobrolyubov, is the only one of its kind in the world. It was opened on September 13, 1971, in honor of the city's 750th anniversary. The idea of creating this memorial museum belonged to Doctor of Philological Sciences and literary scholar Serafim Andreevich Orlov.

The museum occupies two buildings that form the ensemble of the Dobrolyubov estate. These houses, built in 1838 according to the design of architect E.I. Kizevetter, are recognized as monuments of history and culture of federal significance. The main building of the museum is a two-story wing where the Dobrolyubov family lived and where the writer spent his childhood and youth. The house-museum has recreated the original setting, including many memorial items.

Nearby is a three-story building that was previously rented out. Currently, it hosts exhibitions.