In 1912, the Lebanese aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock built the private villa that now houses the museum.

[2] The museum opened in 1961, directed by Amine Beyhum, with an exhibit of works of contemporary Lebanese artists, setting a precedent for cultural events in Beirut.

More than a hundred exhibitions have been held at the museum, including displays of works by Lebanese and international artists.

[4] The museum collection consists of over 800 artworks, including paintings, sculptures and graphic arts from the 19th and 20th centuries.

[5] On 4 August 2020, the museum sustained significant damage and some of its artworks were destroyed as a result of a catastrophic ammonium nitrate explosion.