The museum was founded in 1990, opened for visits in 1992. The main mission of the museum is the representation of the Magdeburg era in the history of the city and country. The main museum expositions: 'From the site of ancient settlement to the city. Mahiliou pre-magdeburg law period', 'Under the protection of the Christian right, from God given. Magdeburg law period in Mahiliou', 'From a free city to the capital of Dnepr-Sozh region. Magdeburg law period and provincial Mahiliou'. The expositions demonstrate the main stages of the development of the culture of the city, the most important aspects of everyday culture and urban everyday life, taking into account the subcultures of different social, ethnic and confessional groups of the population of Mahiliou.