The Telangana State Archaeology Museum, the oldest museum in the city of Hyderabad, is located at Public Gardens, Nampally. A result of the last Nizam’s efforts to preserve the rich history and heritage of the state and country, it was set up during the British Rule. The Nizam had earlier also created the Department of Archaeology in 1915 for the same purpose. The Department conducted many excavations at historical sites and is responsible for the preservation of historically significant monuments

The Museum consists of various ancient artefacts which were excavated in the 1940s. In 1930, a museum was established in Public Gardens, Nampally. In 1952, the exhibits were shifted to the present building. Later, works of various contemporary artists were also collected in the Museum. This was done under the Archaeological Survey of India’s guidance. Popularly known as Hyderabad Museum, it was in 1968 when it was formally named as the AP State Museum and came under the jurisdiction of Andhra Pradesh Government. Presently it's called the State Archaeology Museum.

There are many galleries in the Museum, each presenting captivating collections. From stone sculptures to modern paintings to bronze works to manuscripts to different kinds of textiles, the Telangana State Archaeology Museum displays a variety of items of historical interest. The Museum also boasts of unique collections, such as the imitations of Ajanta Paintings, and is the only museum in the country to possess these. There is also a gallery of bronze artefacts, armour, stone sculptures, manuscripts, modern paintings, textiles, etc. In addition, the Museum also houses a separate gallery of Buddhist sculptures as well.

There is also an extensive collection of Hindu sculptures belonging to the Chalukyan period and the Vijayanagara period. The Museum’s main attraction is a 2,353-year old Egyptian mummy, reportedly brought to Hyderabad by Nazir Nawaz Jung, the son-in-law of the sixth Nizam, Mir Mehboob Ali Khan, who had then donated it to the last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan. He reportedly acquired it for a sum of 1000 British pounds. Recently the mummy was restored from damages through expert intervention. A copy of the Holy Quran with a seal by Shahjahan, the Mughal Emperor has also been kept here.

A popular tourist attraction, the Indo-Saracenic architecture of the Museum is also worth observing besides its collection.