In the early years of Soviet power, workers, soldiers, peasants, intelligentsia, and student youth sought to understand the spiritual values of their people more deeply. Some schools in Pavlovsk began to create museums. The newspaper "Our Village" reported on April 15, 1923, that on April 4 of the same year, the work on the creation of the G. D. Nesterov School Museum at the secondary school in Pavlovsk was completed, where paintings by the artist and his students were exhibited.

The December 23, 1923 issue of the newspaper mentioned the organization of a circle for studying the natural riches of the Pavlovsky region. On December 11, Professor Ramensky gave a report on the tasks of this circle at the Lenin Club.

By May 1, 1924, a local history museum opened at the Lenin Club, aimed at comprehensively reflecting the nature, economic life, history, and archaeology of the region. The museum had three departments: nature, economy, and history and archaeology, and it housed 553 exhibits. It existed thanks to the voluntary work of members of the local history circle.

The idea of creating a museum in Pavlovsk had been discussed for a long time. In the 1960s, a local history museum was established at the Pavlovsk Pedagogical College at the initiative of teacher Eremina E.M., but it could not fully reflect the history of the Pavlovsky district. In 1975, the first secretary of the district party committee, O.K. Zastrozhny, proposed creating an institution for collecting and exhibiting items of historical interest. In May 1977, the secretary of the district party committee, V.P. Stukalov, initiated the creation of a historical and local history museum.

The museum was located on the second floor of a building owned by merchant Ivan Mikhailovich Odintsov. Local local historians and artists participated in its creation. Seven halls of the museum are dedicated to the themes: industry, agriculture, international friendship, medicine, education, culture, the Great Patriotic War, the first steps of Soviet power, nature, and the history of the region. The hall "First Steps of Soviet Power" featured rare photographs and documents.

The museum officially opened on November 5, 1977. The first director was Akim Makarovich Klimenko, and from 1978, the museum was headed by Lyubov Mikhailovna Chursina, who collected numerous exhibits and involved her former classmates in this process. Students from schools who traveled with the director through the villages of the district also contributed to the museum's fund.

The museum received gifts from delegations and collectors, as well as finds from archaeological excavations. Under Chursina's leadership, tourist routes were developed and excursions were conducted.

In 1991, the museum received the status of a state historical and local history museum. It celebrated its 20th anniversary in a new building on the outskirts of the city. Vera Nikolaevna Kalinina, who headed the museum for more than ten years, made a significant contribution to its development. The museum fund increased to 18,000 exhibits, a methodological department was opened, and meetings of the local history society and literary gatherings were held.

Since 2004, the museum has returned to the house of merchant Odintsov. Its collections include artistic, natural science, archaeological, numismatic, and ethnographic exhibits. Today, the Pavlovsky Local History Museum is a center of cultural and spiritual life in the city.