The Reithaus was built from 1715 to 1718 by Christian Richter in the Baroque style. In 1803 and 1804 the architect Heinrich Gentz commissioned a reconstruction. At that time the house received the classicist facade, which can still be seen today. The Reithaus, like the city of Weimar, has a highly eventful history. In the years 1767 to 1768, Starck's theater company performed Lessing's "Minna von Barnhelm" in this house. In 1790, a French street theater made a guest appearance: the Frenchman Burdot offered fireworks to onlookers in front of the Reithaus. During the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt (Prussia against Napoleon) in 1806, it served to house captured Prussians and Saxons. In 1821, the French trick rider Tourniaire gave a guest performance of tightrope walking and equestrian arts in the riding house, and a year later he brought wild animals: Lions, leopards, polar bears and gazelles.

Until 1845 the riding house was under princely administration. Later it passed into municipal ownership. In 1855, after a fire in the penitentiary, it served as temporary accommodation for the prisoners. In 1920, a reconstruction took place, which henceforth rendered the purpose "riding hall" impossible. The Bauhaus had planned to develop the Reithaus as an exhibition space - but these plans were rejected. Eventually, the Reithaus became an administrative building for the state government. The Bauhaus provided the plans for the extension and received two first floor rooms for its own purposes.

After the end of the war, a thorough renovation took place. From 1947 to 1948, the Ministries of Health and Transport were based in the Reithaus. From 1951, the building was used as a children's cultural center (House of Pioneers). After 1989/90, thanks to a committed citizens' initiative, the building was preserved for children's and youth work - and housed a school recreation center between 1991 and 1996.