The idea was proposed to the Governor of West Sumatra at that time, Harun Al Rasyid Zain.

This idea was responded to positively by national authorities, so the construction of the State Museum for the Province of West Sumatra commenced.

The museum was inaugurated on March 16, 1977, by the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia at that time, Syarief Thayeb.

[2] Following the regional autonomy scheme in Indonesia, in 2001 the management of the museum was transferred to the West Sumatran Regional Government, directly under the Department of Culture and Tourism of West Sumatera Province.

Two rangkiangs (Minangkabau rice granaries) flank the museum at the front yard.