The palace was seized by the republican state in 1789 and sold to a private owner, Jean-Baptiste Constance Meunier, on 20 January 1797. Much work was done on it before part of the complex was sold on to Renaud Dumont, one of whose relations,
Jean-Baptiste Ochier, inherited the former palace early in the 19th century. Ochier was a physician passionate about archaeology and used the building to house remains from the Cluny III phase of the abbey. On his death his widow left the palace to the town council to use as a museum and a library. Archivist, palaeographer and author of a thesis on Cluny Abbey, Auguste Pécoul was made curator of the future museum. and added to its collections through donations. The museum opened on 15 August 1866. The collections continued to expand through excavations on the abbey site, particularly those from 1928 to 1950 by
Kenneth John Conant, and through building work in the town and donations. It closed for restoration from 1988 to 1992 before reopening on 6 June 1992. == Collections ==