The Tribal Museum is housed on the premises of the Tribal Research Centre in Udhagamndalam, Nilgiri district, Tamil Nadu. The foundation stone for the Tribal Museum building was placed on September 12, 1989, and construction was finished in 1995, with operations beginning on October 2, 1995. The Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Tamilnadu, took over the Tribal Research Centre and Tribal Museum from Tamil University, Thanjavur on September 13, 1995. Tribal Museum is located at M.Palada, which is approximately 10 kilometres from Ooty Central Bus Stand and Railway Station towards Avalanchi road. It is a popular destination for visitors, students, scholars, and the general public.

The major goal of constructing the museum is to preserve the Tribals’ cultural legacy. Museum artifacts such as traditional Ornaments, Weapons, Utensils, Basketry, Pottery, Tribal Model huts, Agricultural Implements, Hunting and fishing material Painting & Photography, Sculptures, Tribal Model Temple and Medicinal and Minor forest produce items were collected from about 36 different tribal ethnic Communities of the state of Tamilnadu, as well as tribal photography from
other states of India and Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar islands, etc.,