The museum is housed in the
Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, which dates to the 16th century and was once the seat of the
Captaincy General of Guatemala. The building is also a
UNESCO-designated
World Heritage Site. The first phase of the museum was inaugurated on September 10, 2021. Work on the second phase of the museum began on December 1, 2021. One year later, on August 1, 2022, the second phase of the museum was inaugurated, adding an additional 10 rooms to the exhibition space. The museum received more than 500 visitors on its first day of operation after completion of the second phase. The museum has received funding from the
Central American Bank for Economic Integration but is mostly funded by the
Ministry of Culture and Sports of Guatemala. , the operating budget for the museum was approximately 567,000
Guatemalan quetzals per year. == Collection ==