With a decree N.39/ 01.August 1914 of Tsar Ferdinand I, was established Military- Historical Commission at the Headquarters of the Bulgarian Army. A little later was specified its composition - a museum, archives and library.

On  order  N 391 / 04.07.1916  of the  Commander- in  Chief of  the Army  started  the real accomplishment of  the museum items,…in order to preserve for the eternity all the items connected with the events which marked the most important pages of our  military history. 

After dividing in 1906 of the first Bulgarian Peoples Museum into two museums – Archeological and Ethnographical, the Military museum became the 3rd national museum structure.

The first exhibition of the Main Military Museum was opened on 12 May 1937 in a building which was bestowed by the officer’s corps of Sofia, located on 15 Moskovska Str. In 1949 the Museum was renamed as a Central Museum of Peoples Army. In 1950-1951 the Museum has been located on 23 Gen. Skobelev blvd., when in 1952 was opened a new exhibition.

The Naval museum in Varna has become its branch since 1956. The same year started working the first restoration workshop.

After an agreement between the governments of Bulgaria and Hungary, in 1967 ,the staff of the Military museum established the only in a foreign country Museum of the First Bulgarian army.

In 1968, with a decree of the Council of Ministers of National Republic of Bulgaria, the museum was given a status of a national institution and changed its name – became a National Museum of Military History. The Naval Museum and Park- Museum "Wladislaw Warnencek" in Varna became its branches.

Since 1971, started issuing a scientific magazine "Bulletin of NMMH". Since 2001 has issued an Annual of the Naval museum.