The museum is established inside a 19th-century building former of the office of the colonial resident of South Sumatra.

Following the abolition of the Palembang Sultanate, the palace of Kuta Lama was demolished by the British colonial government on October 7, 1823.

Some collections that were previously housed in the rumah bari was moved to Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum.

[2] Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Museum displays a predictable collection of South Sumatran textiles, weapons, traditional dress, crafts, and coins.

The gardens of the museum is filled with artefacts from the Srivijayan period, e.g. statues of Ganesha and Buddha.