The museum was founded by Peter the Great in 1703, originally it was a place of storage "memorable and funny" guns (it was written in the order of Peter I). Special decree ordered to deliver the most unusual and valuable samples of artillery, and later other types of weapons and ammunition, banners and uniforms. This indication is extended to the trophies captured in Peter's wars.

Empress Elizabeth signed a decree transformed the Zeughaus in the memorable hall in 1756. A placement was selected Foundry Yard. The real life of the museum began when it was decided to put the military-historical collection. This event took place in 1868.

The museum is located in the Kronverk (the territory of the fortress). With the German word translates as "strengthening of the crown." Kronverk originally served as one of the elements of the defense system of the fortress. Raising it for four years (1705-1708), and later several times rebuilt and strengthened. At the end of the 18th century building it has ceased to carry defensive value. With Kronwerk associated historical figures such as Peter the Great, Count of BH Munnich, Count PI Shuvalov, Prince L. Hesse-Homburg, General Mayon AP Hannibal and others.

In 1963, to the Historical Museum of Artillery funds were added to the collection of funds from the Central Historical Museum of Military Engineering. Later in the Artillery Museum Military Museum became due. It changed the name of the museum was renamed VIMAIViVS (Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineers and Signal Corps).

The museum collection of weapons from the 54 countries of the world and Russia. Weapon presented and prototypes; and personal weapons belonging to the best generals and naval commanders; and the best production sample who made a great contribution to the victory. Besides weapons exhibited in the windows of the different form of the armed forces, models of fortresses, military awards, models of fortifications from the time of Peter to the present day; authentic archival documents relating to weapons.

The museum is decorated with paintings, graphic and sculptural works on military subjects. Samples of art arouse admiration and interest of visitors for its perfect lines. Historic armored car, which was VI Lenin during his speech at the Finland Station, weapons and personal belongings of Napoleon; Shuvalov and Nartova guns, which have no analogues in the world, can not leave anyone indifferent.

One of the central places in the museum exhibition takes "Kalashnikov - people, weapons, the legend" which has become a permanent, dedicated to Mikhail Kalashnikov, the creator of the whole range of automatic weapons. The weapon, which still has no analogues.

In 2006, the museum opened a new section of the exhibition devoted to military affairs of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern times, which collected samples of weapons of Western Europe 15-17 centuries.

Courtyard Kronwerk, which houses foreign exhibition in 2008. "decorated" a new exhibit - intercontinental strategic missile complex "Topol" (RS-12M).

The abundance of weapons and equipment of past times has allowed the museum to become the venue for the festival of military-historical reconstructions and demonstrations that are carried out by representatives of the Club "Silhouette". Members of this club do not let oblivion is now such a rare art, as a historical fencing techniques which may be lost.

In the vicinity of the Museum organized archaeological excavations, during which were found graves, where were buried the defenders of the builders and St. Petersburg. Also, make findings, saying that the history of these places began much earlier, even before coming to the shore of the Baltic Sea Swedes.

Now the museum is located at Alexander Park, 7.