The Historical and Archaeological Museum in Kerch, also known as the Museum of Antiquities, is one of the oldest museums of its kind in the territory of the former Russian Empire. It was opened on June 2, 1826. The foundation of its collection was the collection of Paul Dubruks, who is considered the founder of Kerch archaeology. The museum studied and described historical monuments and conducted archaeological excavations of ancient settlements and necropolises.

Since 1833, the museum has been managed by the Imperial Archaeological Commission, and its exhibits supplemented the collections of the Hermitage. The scientific activities of the Kerch Museum played a significant role in the development of Russian archaeology, the protection of monuments, and local history.

During the Soviet era, the museum was managed by the People's Education Commissariat and began engaging in cultural and educational activities. In 1922, the museum was transferred to a historic building, a private mansion of P. Mesaksudi, a monument of 19th-century architecture, where it was located for almost 90 years.

The museum features a unique exhibition called the "Golden Treasury," which showcases Panticapaean and Bosporan coins, as well as jewelry from the first centuries AD: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, amulet boxes, buckles, and more. It is also worth visiting the exhibition in the museum's inner courtyard, where you can see stone grain grinders, giant pithoi for storing food, ship anchors, and much more.

Today, the museum, along with several other historical monuments such as the Tsar's Mound and the Kerch Fortress, is part of the East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve.