The building originally belonged to a group of eminent British citizens, known as the Pantheon Committee, who were responsible for improving the social life of the British in Madras (as Chennai was known then).

The museum has sections devoted to archaeology, anthropology, botany, zoology and sculpture. There are also exhibits from the Stone and Iron ages, exquisite carvings and a large collection of South Indian musical instruments and jewellery.The main building has a fine archaeological section representing all the major South Indian periods including Chola, Vijayanagar, Hoysala and Chalukya.  It also houses a good ethnology collection. The museum displays the collection of authentic relics of 2nd century A.D.from the Buddhist site of  Amaravati. The collection has panels, pillars, carved railings and Buddha statues of milky white marble from a Buddhist stupa excavated at Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh.  There are the prehistoric antiques of South India and the magnificent carvings of the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain faiths displayed in the sculpture gallery of the museum.

The bronze gallery has a superb collection of Chola art.  Gods from the Hindu pantheon dominate and are classified under Saivite and Vaishnavite groups.  One of the most impressive is the bronze of Ardhanariswara, Lord Shiva who is half woman.  There are others like the powerful Natarajas, Shiva performing the dance of creation, a Chola Ardhanarisvara, a 9th century Somaskanda from North Arcot district, a 10th century Chola group of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman.

A section ‘Children's Museum’ is a place of wonder for children, which takes them from the land of books to the land of objects. It encourages a child to probe new horizons and directs them into constructive and worthwhile pastimes.   The complex also houses an art gallery, a natural history department and a theatre.

The Chennai Government Museum is the first and the largest Museum founded by the Government and this complex is open 9.30 am to 5 pm and remains closed on Fridays and public holidays.

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