Judging from the nature of the load-bearing elements, the types of building materials and the sturctural system of its various parts, work began building the house in the 17th century and was completed during the second half of the 19th.

Despić House, Despića Kuća

Studies carried out in 2001 corroborated the hypothesis that the present-day building resulted from joining two old-houses by means of a staircase and building on a divnahana (firs floor landing), all under a single roof.

The builders Franjo Linardić and Franjo Moise, of Split probably gave the property its present-day appearance. Features of 19th century life style have survived in the oldest part of the house: musandaras (built-in wall cupboards), shelves, built-in stoves with inset “cups”, and the low, round tables known as peškun. Parts of the interior and furnishing are representative of the spirit of late 19th and early 20th century European styles.

Despić House, Despića Kuća, interior

The Despić family was one of the most prominent merhcant families in the 19th century Sarajevo. It was in this house that the first home theatre in Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded, knows as the Theatre in the Despić Brother's House. The first performance were in or around 180, and performaces continued until the start of the Austro-Hungarian adminstration.

The householder, Mića Despić, was himself the leading actor.

The theatre room and cloakroom are on the east side of the ground floor, the Despić house was turned into a museum in the 1960s, and it is now owned by the Museum of the City of Sarajevo.

The property was damaged during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was repaired in 2001.