The museum was founded on May 4, 1865 by Nikolay G. Bogoslovsky, a priest, scientist, archeologist, and the secretary of Novgorod Province Statistical Committee. In 1992, the 16th Session of UNESCO General Assembly added the whole museum complex of unique architectural monuments of 11th - 17th cc. to the list of World Cultural Heritage. By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation on January 15, 1998, the Novgorod State United Museum was included in the State Register of Particularly Valuable Objects of History and Culture of the Peoples of the Russian Federation.

The museum includes expositions, exhibition halls, and museum monuments of Veliky Novgorod and towns of Novgorod region.

Visit the following exhibitions:

• The History of Veliky Novgorod and Novgorod Land from Ancient Times till 17th c.
• Russian Icon of 11th - 19th Centuries in the Collection of Novgorod State Museum
• Old Russian Woodcarving

Treasury of Veliky Novgorod Exhibiton is available for visiting at the Faceted Archbishop Chamber.

In 2015 Novgorod State United Museum introduced a new service - "a tour with an audio guide." Now you can take a self-guided tour around architectural monuments, museum exhibitions and expositions! Audio guides are presented in four languages: English, Russian, German, French.

Audiogides in Russian, English, German and French!

The list of objects equipped with audio guides:

• Church of St. Andrew Stratilates
• St. Nicholas Cathedral
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign
• Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior on Ilyina Street
• Church of St. Theodore Stratilates on the Brook
• Cathedral of the Nativity of our Lady in St. Anthony's Monastery
• Church of St. Simeon the God-Receiver At Zverin Convent
• Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior on Kovalevo Field
• Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior on Nereditsa Hill

You can also take an audio guide around the exhibitions of: 

• Christian antiquities in the Gate Tower
• Ancient Bells of Veliky Novgorod in the Bell Tower of St. Sophia Cathedral
• Fine Arts Museum

The price for the audio tour around the museums or exhibitions is 200 rubles.

In the Historical Museum audio tours are available at the exhibition:

• the History of Veliky Novgorod and Novgorod Land from Ancient Times till 17th c.
• Russian Icon
• Old Russian Woodcarving

A combined ticket for the audio tour around all three exhibitions is 300 rubles.

• The price for the audio guide around the Vitoslavlitsy Wooden Architecture Museum  - 250 rubles.
• The price for the audio guide around the Kremlin - 250 rubles.
• The price for the audio guide around Yaroslav's Court - 200 rubles.

Maximum use of the tour equipment is 4 hours. Every additional hour costs extra 100 rubles.