The Zappeion Megaron takes its name after Evangelos Zappas, a native of the Greek province of Epiros. Zappas lived in Romania where he made his fortune.  Shortly after the 1821 Greek War of Independence, in the 1850s, he decided to help Greece keep pace with the industrial revolution by constructing a building which would house an exhibition of samples of Greek art and industry as well as other antiquities.

By doing so, Zappas demonstrated an understanding of the need for trade and industrial exhibitions. Construction of the Zappeion Megaro started on January 20th, 1874. In the mid 1880s, the task of designing the Zappeion was asigned to the Danish architect Theophil Hansen, even though construction had already began. Construction works came to a halt twice, however, the building was completed an inaugurated on October 20th, 1888.

Its architecture follows neoclassical designs with a Corinthian portico while its spaces are organized in such a manner with which it is able to fulfill the purpose for which it was built.

The Zappeion Exhibition Hall recently became a member of Historic Conference Centres of Europe while it also houses its own cultural exhibitions and musical performances.