The Smolensk State Museum of History and Architecture (Smolensk-Fortress Museum) is spread across multiple buildings and sites in the city, with the main collections housed in a historic building in the city centre. The permanent exhibitions cover the full sweep of Smolensk's turbulent history — from prehistoric settlements on the Dnieper through the medieval principality, the Polish occupation, Napoleon's invasion, and the catastrophic battles of the Second World War.
The museum is particularly strong on the 1812 campaign, in which Smolensk saw some of the most brutal fighting of the entire Napoleonic invasion of Russia. The material on the German occupation (1941-1943) and the battle for the city is sobering and detailed. There is also a substantial collection of applied arts and decorative objects from across the centuries. English labelling is limited but improving; an audio guide is available.