The foundation of the fort, which now houses the Museum, date from the mid 18th century during the Persian occupation. Most of the present building was erected during the last 100 years when the fort also served as the family home for the Qawasim Sheikhs.

The Museum was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed AI Qasimi on 19.11.1987 after three years of restoration of the fort and planning of the exhibition galleries which include the collections on Natural History, Archaeology, Ethnography, display of Arabian silver ornaments, costumes and weaponery and finally a section on the Qawasim family