The museum's original collections were procured by the Society for the Study of the Amur Region during the period between the museum's establishment in 1884, and its opening in 1890. These original collections focused on the region's history, ecosystem, and the indigenous culture of the region including an exhibit dedicated to the traditions of the indigenous people of Primorye. Exhibits established since the museum's inception include collections centered on the Russian conquest and exploration of Central Asia and Siberia from the 1600s to the 1800s, an exhibit of Ice Age fossils, a 12th century noble burial complex, and a mirror owned by the leader of the Balhae.