The Myshkin Local History Museum was founded by local enthusiasts in 1966. For a long time, it existed thanks to the efforts of enthusiasts without receiving government support.

The idea of creating a museum dedicated to the mouse emerged in the early 1990s. After information about the new collection was published in newspapers, gifts began to arrive in Myshkin from various corners of the country and abroad. Among the first and most notable donors were academician Dmitry Sergeyevich Likhachev and poet Bulat Okudzhava.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the ancient city of Myshkin. According to one legend, Prince Fyodor Mikhailovich Mstislavsky was resting on the banks of the Volga when he was awakened by a running mouse. At first, the prince was angry, but then he noticed a creeping snake and realized that the mouse had saved him from trouble. The settlement was named Myshkin, and in 1777 it received city status. Today, the image of a mouse adorns the coat of arms of Myshkin.

Currently, each of the four halls of the museum features 100-120 mouse figurines. They are made of wood, stone, wax, porcelain, amber, glass, thread, fabric, and metal, creating a true mouse kingdom. The museum houses many soft toys, including original author works. The main character is depicted on the walls and paintings. Here you can see figurines of characters from popular Disney cartoons, such as the funny mouse Jerry and Mickey Mouse, as well as several samples of computer mice.