Government Museum, established in 1851, is located in Egmore, Chennai. Known as the Madras Museum, the museum is the second oldest museum in India, the first being the Indian Museum at Kolkata, started in 1814. The museum was originally established in a building on College Road in Nungambakkam in the year 1851 and was shifted to the present site in 1854. It is also one of the largest museums in South Asia. It is particularly rich in archaeological and numismatic collections. It has the largest collection of Roman antiquities outside Europe. Many of the buildings within the Museum campus are over 100 years old. Among them, the colossal Museum Theatre is one of the most impressive. The Museum complex consisting of six buildings and 46 galleries covers an area of around 16.25 acres (66,000 m²) of land. The objects displayed in the museum cover a variety of artifacts and objects covering diverse fields including archeology, numismatics, zoology, natural history, sculptures, palm-leaf manuscripts and Amravati paintings.

No other museum in South India is as famous as the Government Museum Chennai which is a home to a great collection of the objects which are a testimony to the rich heritage of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the heart of the city at a place called Egmore. Serving several purposes under one roof, the Museum has several galleries dedicated to different themes. The manifestation of this museum was the sincere effort of the Madras Literary Society. Its foundation was laid in the year 1846. Sir Henry Pottinger, the then Governor, took the permission for constructing the museum from the Court Of Directors of the East India Company In London. The Museum was inaugurated on 29th April 1851. Since then its popularity is increasing. Covering an area of 16.25 acres, the Government Museum Chennai houses six separate buildings. Within the boundaries of these six buildings lie 46 galleries which will surely leave you mesmerized. The Government Museum at Chennai is considered to be one of the foremost government sponsored museums in the sub continent of India. The Government Museum in Chennai contains some of the priced collections in the Asian continent. There are grand depositary of extensive art gallery, theater, public library and more.

Located close to the main museum entrance gates on Pantheon Road, the Museum Theatre is a rare specimen of the Italianate style of architecture, inspired by Classical architecture and developed in 1802 at Britain by John Nash. However, the theatre was built by the British in the late 19th century when this style was no longer popular in England. The structure has a high plinth and is accessed through a tall flight of stairs. It is primarily a semicircular structure with a rectangular wing at the rear. The latter wing now houses some of the galleries of the Museum. The main hall is accessed through a verandah with a row of columns linked by semicircular arches. The walls and columns are richly embellished with floral and geometric designs. The huge main hall was initially designed for staging theatrical performances. It has around 600 seats and a commodious stage and the actors' dressing rooms adjoin this stage. During the British era, the Theatre was mainly used for staging English plays preferred by the British elite of the city. Now, the Museum has been using the Theatre for its own cultural and academic programs such as art workshops, lectures and conferences. It also rents the hall for various cultural performances, mainly dramas. The hall has witnessed several plays including those of Shakespeare. The Museum is also a designated 'Manuscript Conservation Centre' (MCC) under the National Mission for Manuscripts established in 2003.

Chennai, formerly known as Madras or Madrasapattinam, is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India. As of 2011, the Chennai Metropolitan Area had a population of nine million. Chennai's economy has a broad industrial base in the automobile, computer, technology, hardware manufacturing and healthcare industries. The city is India's second largest exporter of software, information technology (IT). A major chunk of India's automobile manufacturing industry is based in and around the city, which leads it to be called as 'The Detroit of Asia'. The city is also called as 'Gateway to South India', due to its importance as a port city and its major role in South India's development. Chennai is an important centre for Carnatic music and hosts a large cultural event, the annual Madras Music Season, which includes performances by hundreds of artists. The city has a vibrant theatre scene and is an important centre for the Bharata Natyam, a classical dance form. The Tamil film industry, the second largest film industry in India, is based in Chennai.