The idea of creating the Caucasian Military-Historical Museum belonged to General Dondukov-Korsakov, commander of the Caucasian Military District (1820–1893).
The museum was founded in 1888, with the state treasury allocating 80,000 silver rubles for its construction.
The building was designed by Albert Fedorovich Zaltsman, a Russian architect of German descent (1833–1897).
It was located on Golovin Prospect (now Rustaveli Avenue).
The museum officially opened on February 11, 1907. Its collections were primarily dedicated to the events of the Caucasian War (1817–1864).
Inside, the museum was divided into three halls.
The first hall displayed weapons from various periods, mainly Caucasian, Turkish, and Persian.
The second hall was devoted to captured artillery and armor.
Finally, the third hall showcased battle standards and military paintings, including Franz Roubaud’s panorama “The Storming of the Aul of Akhulgo” (1856–1928), as well as works by Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817–1900).
The museum operated until the beginning of World War I.
In 1914–1915, most of the collection (over a thousand items) was moved to Stavropol.
In 1918, the museum property evacuated to Stavropol was nationalized and transferred to the Stavropol Regional Museum.
Since 1920, the building has housed the National Gallery of Georgia.