Jelgava History and Art Museum is located in a building historically called Academia Petrina. It was erected in 1775 on the initiative of the last Duke of Courland Peter von Biron. A palace in the past, it used to house the first institution of higher education in Latvia, and 1782, the first Latvian observatory.

During the Russian Empire times, there was a gymnasium that had many famous graduates such as K. Barons, J. Alunans, J. Cakste, A. Smetona, and others.

Jelgava History and Art Museum appeared here in 1952 when the building was named after the classic Latvian painter Gederts Elias. Since then, the museum storage began to fill up with masterpieces of Latvian and world art. Many pictures were donated by wealthy citizens and local patrons wishing to support art development in a small town.

Today museum exhibits are related not only to painting: they tell about historical events in Jelgava, wars that affected the city, and natural disasters. The museum also keeps lots of documents significant for the history of the town. The mentioned assets are located in the fund because the museum area does not allow exhibiting everything it stores.

The building has a tower which everyone can climb: it opens up a stunning view of quiet and neat Jelgava. There are information posters about the past: holidays, elections, some historical events. Having walked around the tower, it may seem that the time machine has gone into reverse. The interior is intentionally maintained to look like you are in the 1950s.

History and Art Museum is an excellent pastime in quiet and calm Jelgava, not rich in various events and sights.