The museum was opened in May 1967. The exhibitions, located in three halls, reflect almost a century and a half of the factory's history, from its establishment in 1871 to the present day. Today, the collections of the History Center number about three thousand exhibits, including cup holders and samovars.

The History, Architecture and Art Museum in Yuriev-Polsky is one of the best known provincial museums of Russia's Golden Ring. Located in the territory of the Michael the Archangel Monastery, the museum includes the displays that are dedicated to the history of the city, P.I. Bagration, a famous war chief, and the old Russian painting art.

The Kovrov Merchants' Rows were built in 1892–1893. By the beginning of the 20th century, Kovrov became one of the most important industrial centres of the Vladimir region. The town had an iron foundry, a sawmill, several brick factories, and in 1916, it saw the start of construction of Russia's largest machine-gun factory. The industry development drove the city's growth. It was time when the Merchants' Rows were established.

The monument to the firearms designer was erected in 2022 in the Patriot Park. In 1946–1947, Mikhail Kalashnikov worked in Kovrov to create the first models of the AK-47 assault rifle.