The building was constructed in 1850 as the seminary for Vidzeme parish schoolteachers. From 1853 until 1881 the director of the seminary was Jānis Cimze, but the seminary itself functioned up to 1890. Around 500 parish schoolteachers were trained during this time, this was the study place for such well-known figures as Blaumaņu Kārlis, Auseklis, Indriķis Zīle, Apsīšu Jēkabs, Pēteris Hincenbergs as well as a number of representatives of Estonian music and culture. Since 1970, the building has housed the Valka Local History Museum, which fulfils its mission by popularizing the work of the Latvian educationalist and founder of choir culture Jānis Cimze. The museum has a permanent exhibition about the activities of the seminary, preserves materials on Valka region and the town history and inhabitants, arranges regular art exhibitions, organises celebration of annual traditional customs with the audience’s participation and other activities.
