Nairobi National Museum is located at the Museum Hill, approximately 10 minutes drive from the Nairobi city centre. It houses some of the most celebrated collections of history, culture and art from Kenya and East Africa.

The museum aims to interpret Kenya's heritage by stimulating appreciation and learning. The museum is open daily (including public holidays) from 0930hrs - 1800hrs.

The Museum was initiated in 1910 by the then East Africa and Uganda Natural History Society (now the East African Natural History Society). Its first site was at the present Nyayo House in the Nairobi city centre. The site soon became small and a larger building was put up in 1922 where the Nairobi Serena Hotel now stands.

In 1929, the colonial government set aside land at the Museum Hill and construction work started at the current site. It was officially opened in September 22 1930 and named Coryndon Museum in honour of Sir Robert Coryndon, one time Governor of Kenya and a staunch supporter of Uganda Natural History Society. On the attainment of independence in 1963, it was re-named the National Museum of Kenya (NMK).

On October 15th 2005, the museum closed its doors to the public for an extensive renovation and expansion that is now complete. The Museum has been transformed into a magnificent piece of architecture that puts it in competition with other world class museums. The artworks, the materials used in the fabrication of outdoor sculptures, the landscaping and the botanic gardens, link to the three pillars of Kenya’s national heritage i.e. nature, culture and history. A welcoming ambience of harmony between the galleries, the non gallery spaces, the museum landscape and its entrances, make museum visits more exciting.