In September 1995, by the decision of the mayor of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the Literary and Artistic Museum of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's book "Island Sakhalin" was opened. The museum was created to commemorate Chekhov's trip to the penal island in 1890. The museum's exhibition is dedicated to the book "Island Sakhalin," written by Chekhov as a result of this trip. The museum's collection includes materials that demonstrate the significance and popularity of the book in the global cultural space. Thanks to Chekhov's fame and the uniqueness of the museum, it has become an important landmark of the city and a part of the cultural life of the entire Far Eastern region.

Since 1998, the museum has regularly held the "Chekhov Readings" conference, with materials published in the corresponding collections. The main themes of the readings concern Sakhalin during Chekhov's time and the historical-literary aspects of his work. Research by Sakhalin scholars generates interest in all museums associated with Chekhov's name.

During its operation, the museum has updated its exhibition twice, in 2000 and 2005. In 2010, the year marking the anniversary of Chekhov in Sakhalin, the museum celebrated its 15th anniversary. In honor of this event, the governor of Sakhalin Oblast decided to build a new building for the museum. Although the old building, reminiscent of a "Chekhov house with a mezzanine," was architecturally suitable, it did not provide enough space for collections and exhibitions. In the fall of 2011, construction of a new museum building with an area of 1884 square meters began in the city center. The new building includes spacious rooms for collections and exhibitions, offices for staff, an exhibition hall, a recreation area, parking, and a café. At the beginning of 2013, the new museum building was put into operation.