The museum originates from an original nucleus left by Sigismondo Ala Ponzone (1761-1842), it is a collection of the highest level as he was a naturalist and preparator himself. In the following years, other collections donated by local naturalists were added.

The proposed path is articulated in sections, starting with the historical section, mainly consisting of the original Ala Ponzone nucleus, continuing with a passage through the individual disciplines: mineralogy, paleontology, and zoology, to arrive at the reading of our territory. The natural environment and in particular the urban one allow to introduce a highly topical theme applied to the local situation: a reflection on the conservation of biodiversity. The space dedicated to education, interdisciplinary and available to all sections of the museum system, leads instead to a reflection on how man uses the resources of his territory, linking to the theme of the river/city relationship that has characterized the history of our community.