The Institute was established in 1880 at the initiative of Tommaso Conversini, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, who left his entire estate to a foundation charged with instituting and financing a Charity Workhouse for orphans in Pistoia. The school underwent various changes, assuming different names on various occasions, but always pursuing the objective of providing young people with adequate preparation for entering the world of work.

The Institute conserves the old instruments from the Physics Cabinet, most of which can be dated from the late 19th century to 1920-30. Of notable interest are a solar microscope and an aquatic microscope produced by the Dollond Company of London, both dating from the end of the 18th century. The school also possesses foundry instruments, used in its forge for teaching purposes in the early years of the 20th century, among them including bent tiles, anvils, a power hammer and a bellows.