In 1933, Sergey Grigorievich Kashtanov discovered the first two skeletons of pareiasaurs near Kotelnich. Since 1990, systematic excavations have been conducted in this area, leading to significant scientific discoveries and the creation of a unique museum. Many exhibits in the museum hold immense scientific value and have no analogs in the world.

The museum annually organizes scientific research at the state natural monument "Kotelnich Pareiasaur Site." Here, remains of fossil reptiles are collected, processed, and scientifically interpreted, and then displayed for viewing.

The exhibition "The Mystery of Permian Reptiles" introduces visitors to the world of ancient reptiles that existed before dinosaurs. In Russia, the first location of such reptiles was found by Vladimir Amalitsky's expedition in the late 19th century near the city of Kotlas. Excavations by Warsaw University near Kotlas uncovered 11 complete skeletons of scutosaurus and other ancient animals, forming what is known as the "Northern Dvina Fauna of Amalitsky."

The exhibition features casts of scutosaurus and foreign species skeletons discovered by Amalitsky's expedition. These finds are approximately 255 million years old.

In 1933, a large site of Permian fossil animals was found near Kotelnich. Excavations at the end of the 20th century revealed that this is one of the largest collections of Permian reptile skeletons in the world, represented by numerous species. About 20 species of ancient animals have been found, many of which are unique. The age of the finds is 260 million years, and their preservation is astonishing, with skeletons often found intact in clay rock. These excavations became the basis for the collection of the Vyatka Paleontological Museum in Kirov.

The exhibition showcases skulls and skeletons of well-known representatives of the Kotelnich fauna: pareiasaurs, emyrolaters, dicynodonts, therocephalians, and gorgonopsians. Sculptural reconstructions of the appearance of extinct creatures, which differed from modern animals, can also be seen.

For children, an attraction has been organized where they can participate in excavations and determine what kind of animal it is and how it lived.

The exhibition "The History of Life on Earth" presents fossils of organisms that lived during different geological periods. The exhibits cover a time span from 260 million years ago to 65 million years ago. The central exhibit is a tarbosaurus skeleton from the Gobi Desert. Skulls and skeletons of various fossil animals, including the fauna of the Kotelnich site, are also presented.

The exhibition is equipped with illustrations that tell the story of the development of life on Earth. Young visitors can participate in excavations, working with a play module to feel like fossil hunters.

Visitors will learn what might have happened to Earth if a catastrophe had not occurred 65 million years ago, which destroyed almost all life, and why dinosaurs achieved such diversity.

The museum's branch in Kotelnich, Kirov region, is called the "Kotelnich Paleontological Museum." It tells about the years of research at the natural monument "Kotelnich Pareiasaur Site," which stretches along the Vyatka River.

On September 10, 2011, a new exhibition was opened at the museum. The development of the exhibition took more than two years, and the optimal option reflecting the specifics of the pareiasaur site was chosen.

In two halls covering 90 sq. m., a variety of fossil animals and plants from the Permian period are presented. Here, one can see skeletons of pareiasaurs, dicynodonts, gorgonopsians, and other creatures that lived long before dinosaurs.

For the new exhibition, sculptor Andrey Skvortsov created a reconstruction of the paleolandscape with reduced animals and plants, showcasing the world 260 million years ago.