The PGSHA Zoological Museum is one of the largest natural science museums in the Volga region. Its exhibition, located in five halls, showcases the diversity of the animal world and includes 61 systematic showcases and 22 ecological dioramas representing various natural zones of the Earth.

The museum's collection comprises 15,000 exhibits, covering not only local fauna but also animals from other countries and continents. It includes 60 species listed in the Red Book of the Samara region and Russia, about 80 species of fish, 15 species of amphibians, 60 species of reptiles, 200 species of birds, and 150 species of mammals. The museum is open to all, featuring a permanent exhibition, guided tours, classes for students, and lectures.

The collection of zoological material at the Kuibyshev Pedagogical Institute began in 1929 when the Department of Zoology was established under the leadership of Professor Gennady Geliarovich Shtrekher. The focus was on collecting vertebrate animals, with taxidermy specimens of various representatives of the fauna being made or acquired. Materials on vertebrates were placed in cabinets, while invertebrates, mainly insects, were displayed in special showcases. The collections occupied a spacious room, sufficient for the existing objects, and had a systematic direction. A taxidermist was part of the department's staff.

During the Great Patriotic War, the institute moved to a school building on L. Tolstoy Street, 47, which led to a sharp decline in zoological research and the acquisition of new exhibits. The war and post-war period caused significant damage to the collections, and the museum was disbanded. Many exhibits were transferred to schools and methodological offices in the city, some were lost, and the remaining specimens lost their scientific and educational value. By 1955, only a few specimens remained from the museum's collection.

The situation improved in 1955 when Professor Dmitry Nikolayevich Florov took over the department. At his initiative, the museum began to be revived, and in 1957, a new space was allocated for it on the third floor of the main educational building on M. Gorky Street. The organization of the museum was actively participated in by Professors D. N. Florov, L. V. Vorzheva, staff of the Department of Zoology, and members of the zoological circle. Since 1960, the museum has been open to visitors.

In 1972, along with the Department of Zoology, the museum moved to a new building on Antonova-Ovseenko Street. From September 1, 1978, 280 square meters were allocated for the museum, allowing for the full utilization of the available material.