The stormy period in the town history falls on the 14-17th centuries. In 1384 the Novgorodians built the Yam fortress which was the largest settlement in the northern possessions of the Novgorod State. It was located on the bank of the Luga river and surrounded by 240 houses with a monastery and a church. Like other Baltic lands, it witnessed several sieges and change of rulers. In 1703 Peter I returned it from the Swedes and changed the name of the town to Yamburg. The museum collection illustrates this period in the town history by innumerous archeological objects like medieval domestic implements, fire-arms and cold steel, adornments, glassware produced at the local factories founded by the order of Peter I, etc. The numismatic collection is really good, containing Swedish and Russian coins of the 16-20th centuries.

The earlier period in the town history is characterized by the finds from the site of the fortress and burial mounds of the region.

The ethnographic collection of traditional culture possesses weaving, clothing, embroidery, implements of labour and domestic utensils.

Added with photographs and rare documents, the archeological objects and artifacts of national cultures reveal the distinctive character of the region conveying a message from the past.