The question of creating a local history museum in Soligalich was discussed as early as 1916 at a meeting of the Soligalich Zemstvo. In 1921, the Soligalich branch of the Kostroma Scientific Society was established, which actively collected items from devastated estates, monasteries, and churches. The museum was opened on November 4, 1923, and its first director was Ivan Vasilyevich Shumsky.

The museum was located in two rooms on the ground floor of the House of Enlightenment and occupied an area of 80 square meters. By December 16, 1923, its collection included 125 cultural and historical, 28 natural history, and 7 socio-economic exhibits, totaling 160 items and 372 objects. On November 20, the Beekeeping Museum joined with approximately 200 exhibits.

In 1926, the museum was reorganized due to acquiring a new space. It consisted of two departments: "Nature of the Region" and "Man, Economy, and Culture of the Region," and the total number of exhibits reached 880.

In the 1920s, many items from closed noble estates were added to the museum, including unique portraits of the noble Cherevins from the Neronovo estate, many of which were created by the talented provincial artist Grigory Ostrovsky. These portraits now adorn one of the museum's halls.

In 1927, the museum moved to the building of the Nativity of the Virgin Cathedral. In 1992, it was decided to transfer the cathedral to the Kostroma Diocese. In 2000, the museum was provided with a reconstructed building in the city center, the house of merchant A.I. Zavyalov. Today, the museum hosts 12 exhibitions and displays.