The museum is located at the socalled Madhouse Tower (Narrenturm).

The madhouse tower was built under Emperor Josef II^nd in 1784. Isidore Canevale was planner and architect, but also had to follow ideas and conceptations of Dr. Joseph von Quarin, managing director of the hospital.

The building constructed was then the first psychiatric hospital.

1866 operations were closed and the tower was then used as rooming house for nurses, as residence for doctors, as a depository of university clinics and workshops.

Since 1971 the Federal Pathologic-Anatomical Museum has been located at the madhouse tower. Since 1993 the complete building has been used as a museum. The madhouse tower is a historical building under public custody. It is owned by the University of Vienna.

See also New General Hospital Vienna.