The local history museum in the city of Makaryev began its work in March 1959. It was founded by A. I. Shmakov, who, along with members of the local history circle at the city House of Pioneers, started collecting various exhibits.

Today, the museum is located in a building that is a federal architectural monument. It was built in 1806 and originally served as an administrative complex for the local government.

Among the most interesting exhibitions of the museum are:

"Memory of the Past the City Keeps," dedicated to the history of the creation and development of the city;

"Maestro Zharov," telling about Sergey Alekseevich Zharov, a composer, conductor, and founder of the famous Don Cossack Choir;

"Prehistoric Park of the Unzha Valley," where fossils from the Cretaceous period and remains of prehistoric animals from the Pliocene epoch, found in the basin of the Unzha River, are presented;

"UNZHLAG, the Unknown Island of the Gulag Archipelago," shedding light on the history of the correctional labor camp that existed in the territory of the Makaryev district and was part of the Gulag system.