The edifice of the museum was built by V.E. von Graff in 1853. However, at that time the building had a different function. It accommodated a meteorological observatory, measuring temperature and determining the direction and strength of the wind. On the basis of these data von Graff drew conclusion on the influence of climatic conditions on the growth of various tree species. Reports with the results of the observations were sent to the meteorological observatory in Saint-Petersburg. Copies of these reports have been kept in the archives of the State Museum of Saint-Petersburg until now.

After von Graff moved to Moscow, the observatory stopped its work and the successors of Viktor Egorovich started living in the building. Visitors of the museum can see the writing table and safe of Nikolay Yakovlevich Dakhnov who worked in Velikoanadolskoye Forestry in 1894-1919.

After von Graff moved to Moscow, the observatory stopped its work and the successors of Viktor Egorovich started living in the building. Visitors of the museum can see the writing table and safe of Nikolay Yakovlevich Dakhnov who worked in Velikoanadolskoye Forestry in 1894-1919.

A monument to V.E. von Graff has been erected opposite to the museum on the central path of Velikoanadolskiy forest in 1910 is well-known to lovers of history. The monument is made from black Finnish marble that symbolizes the purposefulness and will-power of the forestry scholar.

In Soviet times the building of the former meteorological observatory was used as a hostel, and later as the office of the State timber industry enterprise. Only in 1991, it acquired its current status, having become the Forest Museum, where documents and exhibits telling about past and present days are gathered.