The Tambov Provincial Museum, which later became known as the Tambov Regional Local History Museum, was founded on December 24, 1879, in honor of the centenary of the Tambov Governorate. In 1884, the management of the museum was transferred to the Tambov Scientific Archive Commission (TUAC). From 1918 to 1922, the museum included the museum at TUAC, the Tambov City Museum, the Traveling Museum of Visual Aids named after A. F. Bunakov, and the Art Museum.

After the creation of Tambov Oblast in October 1937, the museum received the status of a regional local history museum. From 1929 to 1994, it was located in the building of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral. Since 1994, the local history museum has been housed in the former building of the House of Political Enlightenment.