The history of the Museum locality is deeply intertwined with the royal family of the erstwhile Kingdom of Travancore. In the mid-19th century, under the reign of Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal, significant efforts were made to modernize the capital. The Trivandrum Zoo was established in 1857 as an annex to an early museum, making it one of the oldest zoological parks in Asia.
The architectural crown jewel of the area, the Napier Museum, was completed in 1880. Designed by Robert Chisholm, a British architect who pioneered the Indo-Saracenic style, the building was named after Lord Napier, the Governor of Madras. It seamlessly incorporated traditional Kerala architectural elements, such as gothic roofs and minarets, alongside natural air-conditioning systems. Over the decades, the surrounding grounds were developed into an expansive botanical garden. Following India's independence and the formation of the state of Kerala in 1956, the area transitioned from royal patronage to state administration, evolving into the premier public and cultural space in the capital.