It was initially established by the pharmacist Johann Burchart, who ran the town hall pharmacy known as the Raeapteek.

There is an original hut used by the Forest Brothers, the legendary partisans who fought against the Soviet occupation, and a replica of a desk used by a communist party secretary.

[3] In 1802, Tallinn pharmacist Johann Burchard started a collection called Mon Faible (My Weakness).

In 1842, the Estonian Literary Society (German: Estländische Literärische Gesellschaft) and began collecting materials to form a museum.

The manor was then purchased by the Estonian government who used it to house the Military Aviation School of the Republic of Estonia.