The museum was built in 1903 by Phra Chao Suriyapnong Phalidet, the penultimate lord of Nan, when he wanted to renovate his wooden residence. His successor, the Chao Maha Brahma Surathada, spent his lifetime in this building, and after his death his heirs donated it to the Thai government in 1931, with a request that it be used as a town hall for the province of Nan. In 1973, the government constructed a new town hall building and inaugurated the present museum. There is a regular schedule of renovation work, making this one of the most updated of all the museums in Thailand .