The history of the Museum locality is deeply intertwined with the royal lineage of the Kingdom of Travancore. In the mid-19th century, the rulers of Travancore envisioned a dedicated space for public education, culture, and recreation. The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest in India, was established here in 1857 by the Maharaja of Travancore, Uthram Thirunal Marthanda Varma.
The centerpiece of the neighborhood, the Napier Museum, was originally built in 1855 but was demolished and subsequently rebuilt in 1874 under the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal. Designed by Robert Chisholm, the consulting architect of the Madras Government, the building is a masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic architecture, featuring Gothic roofs and minarets. It was named after Lord Napier, the Governor of Madras from 1866 to 1872.
Over the 20th century, the area evolved into a broader cultural district. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery was opened in 1935 by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, introducing the public to the works of Raja Ravi Varma and Nicholas Roerich. Today, the Museum area remains preserved as a heritage zone, bridging the princely past of Kerala with its democratic present.