It is located in several neighboring buildings, most prominently two designed by
Melchior Berri in the early 19th century. One was desgnied for Johann Jakob Bachofen-Merian, the father to
Johann Jakob Bachofen and the other for the Swiss merchant Isaac Iselin-Roulet. During several years the buildings were renovated and the museum was inaugurated in 1966. Initially the museum included only one of the two Berri buildings, the one constructed for Roulet, the other one being used by the cities
Civil Register. In 1986 the also the building built for the Bachofen family, became a part of the museum. During several years the buildings were renovated and the museum was inaugurated in 1966. Having opened with about 650
m2 of exhibition room, until 1992 it has expanded to 3000 m2. == Collection ==