The Museum was initiated in 1910 by a group of enthusiastic naturalists under the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society [currently the East African Natural History Society (EANHS)], who needed a place to keep and preserve their collections of various specimens. The first site for the Museum was at the present Nyayo House, which later became too small and a larger building was put up in 1922 where the Nairobi Serena Hotel stands today.

In 1929, the colonial government set aside land for a Museum construction at Museum Hill which was officially opened in 22nd September, 1930 and named Coryndon Museum in honour of Sir Robert Coryndon, one-time Governor of Kenya. In 1963 after independence, it was re-named the National Museum of Kenya (NMK).

The Museum hosts both temporary and permanent galleries that attract learners and tourists alike. We have the following permanent galleries: The Cradle of human kind gallery; The Story of mammals; The History of Kenya; Cycles of life gallery; Numismatic exhibition and Asian African Heritage exhibition gallery respectively.