The MahN holds about 30 collections that include numerous artefacts of various types: clothing, costumes, toys and other hand-crafted or manufactured items relating to everyday life, food, medicine and transportation at Neuchâtel. These collections cover the period from the Middle Ages to the present day.

They also feature iconographic documents (photographs and engravings) related to Neuchâtel's history and more specifically the city's economic, social cultural life: subjects include brasseries, tobacconists, trade, public transport, communications and leisure activities. A set of cartoons depicts events during the revolutionary period in the 19th century.