The museum is set into the limestone slope of Lasnamäe hill to harmonise, despite its size, with centuries-old Kadriorg Park.

The Art Museum of Estonia was founded on November 17, 1919, but it was not until 1921 that it got its first permanent building — Kadriorg Palace, built in the 18th century.

At the end of 1991, the parliament of the country decided to secure the construction of a new building for the Art Museum of Estonia in Kadriorg Park.

Kumu includes exhibition halls, an auditorium that offers diverse possibilities, and an education centre for children and art lovers (see above).

Kumu has a thorough collection of Estonian art, including paintings by Carl Timoleon von Neff, Oscar Hoffmann, Ants Laikmaa, Julia Hagen-Schwarz, Oskar Kallis, Konrad Mägi, Jaan Koort, Henn Roode, and Johannes Greenberg.