The history of the Museum precinct is tied to some of Kerala's most prominent figures.
* **Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma:** The 19th-century Maharaja of Travancore who established the museum and zoo. * **Raja Ravi Varma:** One of India's greatest painters; a vast collection of his original works is permanently housed in the Sree Chitra Art Gallery here. * **Robert Chisholm:** The pioneering British architect who designed the Napier Museum, popularizing the Indo-Saracenic architectural style. * **J. C. Daniel:** Often called the father of Malayalam cinema, whose legacy is celebrated in the cultural institutions nearby.