The Gandhi Memorial Museum is located in the Tamukkam Palace, which was constructed in the 17th century as the summer palace of Rani Mangammal. Under British colonial rule, it was used as the residence of British officials in Madurai. After India’s independence, the palace was taken over by the Tamil Nadu government. In 1955, the state allocated a portion of the palace to the All India Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. The assigned portion was used for the establishment of the Gandhi Memorial Museum in honour of the Father of the Nation- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. 

Gandhi Memorial Museum was formally inaugurated in 1959 by India’s first Prime Minister- Jawaharlal Nehru. It hosts a variety of artefacts related to Mahatma Gandhi, including the cloth he had worn when he was assassinated. The main hall consists of various panels which trace the history of India’s freedom struggle. A few panels narrate the story of the advent of European companies to India and India’s colonisation. Others highlight India’s struggle to overthrow British colonial rule starting from the 1857 Uprising, the Swadeshi movement of 1905 and many more important historical events. Another interesting gallery includes panels narrating the life of Mahatma Gandhi. It also includes replicas of objects he used daily such as footwear, spectacles and other items. The museum attempts to display his life not just as a lawyer and a freedom fighter but also as a philosopher who valued truth, justice and humanity.

The Government Museum in Madurai was established in 1980. It is situated within the Tamukkam Palace complex. This museum was inaugurated in 1980 by an Indian social reformer and its founder, Dr G. Ramachandran, who became its first chairman. It is one of the most prominent museums of Madurai, showcasing objects from ancient to modern times. The entrance of the museum is decorated with beautiful sculptures, like the 16th-century Ayyanar (Vishnu) with consorts, the 17th-century Madurai Veeran (Guardian deity) with consorts and Sapthamatrikas (Seven Mothers). The main hall, named the Salt March Golden Jubilee Hall, commemorates the Salt Satyagraha of 1930. Other galleries include sculptures, musical instruments, weapons, paintings, and zoological specimens. 

Artefacts from pre-historic times housed in this museum include carnelian beads (button-shaped and edged), black and red ware pottery, and glass beads. Intricately carved bronze and stone sculptures are presented in another gallery, including the bronze sculptures of gods and goddesses like Vishnu, Somas Kanda (Shiva with his consort Parvati), and Devi Uma (Parvati). The museum’s painting collection includes episodes from the Thiruvilayadal Puranam (Shaivite devotional epic stories) and Tanjore paintings. Various palm-leaf manuscripts and inscriptions, some belonging to the Pandyan period are located in the inscription gallery. The musical instruments gallery is another interesting section which includes some of the oldest instruments, like Veena and Gottuvadyam. Other galleries include weapons, a section on zoology, and the human sciences.

Madurai was ruled by several powerful rulers from different dynasties. Among them, Queen Mangammal from the Nayaka Dynasty is regarded as a prominent female ruler in the history of Madurai. She is remembered for her progressive policies and patronage of arts and culture. Queen Mangammal was born during the 17th century in a family of warriors. Her father was Tupakula Lingama Nayaka, the army general of Madurai Nayakas. In 1665, she was married to Madurai’s ruler, Chokkanatha Nayaka. She gave birth to a son, Ranga Krishna Muttu Virappa, in 1667. After her husband’s demise, her son rose to power but unfortunately died early in 1689. Subsequently, Queen Mangammal was appointed as a regent on behalf of her grandson, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayaka. She exercised considerable power for 17 years and efficiently managed the state affairs.

Queen Mangammal maintained cordial diplomatic relations with the Mughals and the Marathas. She is remembered as a courageous queen who fought against enemies like Ravi Varma of Travancore and Chikka Deva of Mysore. She commissioned public welfare works such as the construction of roadways, dams, chatram (choultry), and the Rani Mangammal Palace Darbar Hall in Tiruchirapalli. She is also credited with the construction of the Tamukkam Palace, which served as her official residence. In 1706, she passed away in mysterious circumstances. It is believed that Queen Mangammal was either imprisoned or poisoned by her over-ambitious grandson, Vijayaranga Chokkanatha Nayaka.

Muhammad Yusuf Khan was born as Maruthanayagam Pillai in 1725, in Ramanathapuram. He is remembered for his struggles against the British in Madurai. Yusuf Khan in his early days served as a soldier in the Tanjore army. Due to his excellent military prowess, he was enlisted in the army of the British East India Company. In 1756, he was appointed as the Governor of Madurai by the East India Company. Colonial records, like Genuine Memoirs of Asiaticus, describe him as a descendant of the Pandyans. He became proficient in languages such as French and English after spending considerable time with Europeans in the city. During his tenure in Madurai, Yusuf Khan witnessed the atrocities inflicted by the colonial government on the local population. Determined to liberate his people, he led a revolt against British colonisation. He overthrew the suzerainty of the British in the region and established himself as the ruler of Madurai. Yusuf Khan earned the title Khan Sahib among the locals. He secured the city with the help of fortifications, tightened security for local traders and improved the condition of rivers for agriculture. In the year 1764, Yusuf Khan was captured by the British authorities. He was publicly hanged in Kansa Mettu Street, which used to be his place of residence. 

Thirumalai Nayaka is one of the most famous rulers in the history of Madurai. During the 17th century, he became the seventh ruler of the Nayaka dynasty, after succeeding his brother, Muttu Virappa Nayaka. His reign is associated with various reforms which helped in the development of Madurai. At the time of Thirumalai Nayaka’s accession, the capital of the dynasty was Trichinopoly (present-day Tiruchirapalli). In 1634, he shifted the capital to Madurai. 

Thirumalai Nayaka’s rule ushered in an era of cultural development. The best example of this was the construction of the Thirumalai Nayak Palace in 1636. This palace served as the residence of the royal family and continues to be a symbol of Madurai’s architectural excellence. Its carved arches, massive pillars, spacious courtyards and halls adorned with elaborate stucco work are evidence of the ruler’s elegant artistic taste. Thirumalai Nayaka also made further developments to the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Around 1635, he ordered the construction of the Meenakshi Temple’s tallest gopuram called the Raya Gopuram. Unfortunately, his dream remained unfulfilled and the construction could never be completed. He is also remembered as a brave warrior, who successfully invaded the kingdom of Travancore between 1634 and 1635 and safeguarded Madurai from the invasion of the Mysore ruler, Kanthirava Narasaraja Wodeyar I. An efficient diplomat, Thirumalai Nayaka maintained good relations with foreign traders such as the Portuguese. His artistic and administrative legacy continues to resonate with the city.

Lady Doak College was established on 14 July 1948 by Miss Katie Wilcox, an American missionary. Presently situated on Hakim Ajmal Khan Road, it is one of the earliest missionary colleges for women in Madurai. Its foundation was laid by a Scottish businessman, Sir James Doak, his wife and Dr. John X. Miller a missionary and a statesman. The college was named after Lady Helen Doak to recognise her efforts toward women's empowerment through education. The college was associated with a Christian education trust known as the Katie Wilcox Education Association.  

Lady Doak College’s motto, described in Latin as Semper pro veritate (Always for the truth), reflects its commitment to impart holistic education based on values of love, justice, equality, and peace. This institution began with 81 students under a thatched roof and later a concrete building was established. Over the years, it has expanded significantly as more structures were added, such as the Administrative Hall, Wilcox Chapel, J.X. Miller Library, Indoor Stadium-cum-auditorium, lecture halls, and others. Presently, it consists of over 4,735 students, over 200 staff members, and 138 non-teaching members. In 1978, Lady Doak College was affiliated with Madurai Kamaraj University. It offers several programmes, such as Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and PG Diploma in disciplines such as Science, Business Administration, and Humanities. The college’s archive section is a repository of documents, photographs, and objects reflecting its rich history. Its library has a collection of thousands of books. Usha Elangovan, an Indian artist; the scientist Shruti Suriyakumar; and Jerlin Anika, India’s badminton player, are amongst the college’s notable alumni.

The establishment of Madura College is associated with the Wood’s Dispatch of 1854 also known as the "Magna Carta of English Education in India". Madura College was constructed in 1889 under the supervision of Lord Wenlock, the Governor of Madras (1891–1896) and the Madura Native High School Committee. Initially, the college campus was situated on West Veli Street in Madurai. In 1937, it was relocated to its current location in Vidyanagar. The land for the current campus was donated by a barrister Robert S. Fischer and philanthropist Raja Annamalai Chettiar. 

At present, Madura College’s campus spans over 43 acres. The college motto is described in Sanskrit as Vidya Dharmena Shobathe i.e. Learning shines with righteousness. In 1978, Madura College received recognition from the UGC (University Grants Commission) as an autonomous institution and was affiliated with Madurai Kamaraj University. Originally founded as an institute exclusively for boys, in 1997 it became coeducational. Its vision is to "produce disciplined, competent, spiritually, socially committed, and morally upright students through quality education and research." The college provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programmes in science, commerce, economics, and physical education, with a current student body of more than 3,000. Its infrastructure includes administrative blocks, lecture halls, a library, an auditorium, and other facilities.

Among the distinguished alumni of the college are T.S. Rajam (founder of TVS Group) and Lakshmi Kanthan Barathy (I.A.S. officer and freedom fighter). With a legacy of 135 years, this institution continues to stand as a prominent centre of knowledge.

The American College in Pasumalai was established in 1841 as a part of an American missionary programme. In 1881, it began functioning as a college through the efforts of G. T. Washburn, an American missionary. It is one of the oldest colleges in Tamil Nadu. In the early 20th century, W. M. Zumbro, the college’s second principal shifted it to its current location on Azhagar Kovil Road. This institution was established to provide higher education to the people of Madurai and helped the city to prosper academically.

The current college campus is spread over 100 acres of land. Its architecture is a blend of Indian and Gothic styles, including domes, arches and stained glass. Eminent personalities like India’s first Nobel Prize winner- Rabindranath Tagore and the former Prime Minister of France- Georges Clemenceau, visited the college during the 20th century and gave lectures. The American College is one of the first colleges in India to use computers. It was the first college in South India to have a students’ hostel within the campus premises. In the realm of academics, the college offers a variety of programmes including Social Work, Gender Studies, Dalit Studies, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Computer Science and Business Administration. The American College is one of the only colleges in Asia to have a Department of Religion, Philosophy and Sociology.

Madurai Shanmukhavadivu Subbulakshmi, popularly called M.S. Subbulakshmi, was born on 16 September 1916. She resided at Hanumantharayan Koil Street in Madurai. Her mother, Shanmukhavadivu, was a veena player and her father, Subramania Iyer, was a lawyer. Affectionately addressed as Kunjamma by her family, M.S. Subbulakshmi from an early age developed an inclination towards music, and took forward her mother’s legacy. Initially, she received training in Carnatic music from renowned classical artists like Srinivasa Iyengar and Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.

One of her earliest performances was a bhajan (devotional song) at the age of eight at a local Veena recital event. She gained recognition for her talent in Thanjavur’s Kumbakonam Temple. Marakatha Vadium (1926) was her debut song, recorded under the Twin Recording Company label. Her notable collection includes devotional songs like Venkatesa Suprabhatam (1958), Kanakadharastavam (1979), and Tamil cinema hits such as Kaatrinile Varum Geetham (1945). In 1933, she made history by becoming the first female vocalist to receive the prestigious title of Sangita Kalanidhi (Treasure of Music and Art) at the Madras Music Academy Programme. During the late 1930s, she ventured into acting and starred in iconic Tamil movies such as Sevasadanam (1938), Sakuntalai (1940), and Meera (1945). In the 1940s, she married Thyagaraja Sadasivam, a journalist and freedom fighter, and they had a daughter named Radha Viswanathan. 

M.S. Subbulakshmi was recognised at the national level by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, and Sarojini Naidu. In 1966, she became the first Indian classical musician to perform at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. She received various prestigious awards, such as the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1974) and Bharat Ratna (1998) among others. The queen of Carnatic music passed away on 11 December 2004 in Chennai.