The museum was founded in 1953 by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies. It is housed in a three storey neoclassical building, owned by the Kalokairinos family, and represents an important element of Cretan history and tradition. It comprises 12 rooms, showing the evolution of the Cretan civilization, from the Christian period until the XX century. Its collections include pictures, historical heirlooms, books, maps, Cretan costumes and many other exhibits depicting the Crete of the past.