The "Museum of the History of the City of Kyiv" was created on November 14, 1978 and opened in the first quarter of 1979 in the "House of Peter I" in Podil (6/8 Kostyantynivska St.). The museum collection at that time consisted of archaeological materials transferred by the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR, ethnographic and numismatic collections, a collection of icons, old prints, postcards, gifts from enterprises, institutions and residents of Kyiv. In a short period of time, the museum's holdings increased to 36,000 items.

Due to the lack of exhibition space, only 5-6% exhibits could be exhibited, therefore the museum was moved to the Klovsky Palace (an architectural monument of national importance of the 18th century at 8 Pylypa Orlyka St.) and opened on May 26, 1982, on the day of the celebration of the city's 1500th anniversary . The Museum was housed in the Klovsky Palace for more than twenty years and had 18 exhibition and assembly halls, administrative premises and fund storage. During this time, the Museum gained fame as one of the best cultural and educational institutions of the capital of Ukraine and became a visiting card of ancient Kyiv.

However, by order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 506 of August 11, 2003, the building of the Klovsky Palace was transferred to the Supreme Court of Ukraine. From March 10, 2004, the museum was closed for visits and "moved" to the 4th and 5th floors of the Palace of Arts "Ukrainian House" on the street. Khreschatyk, 2.

On June 6, 2012, under pressure from the public, the building of the shopping and office center near the "Teatralna" metro station on the street was transferred to the "Kyiv City History Museum". 7 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street, where since August 22, 2012, the Museum of the History of the City of Kyiv resumed exposition and exhibition activities, and now functions as the Museum and Exhibition Center of the "Museum of the History of the City of Kyiv".