[1] The museum was created to preserve the historical and ethnographic heritage of Salvador de Bahia, over time, the museum focused on expanding its catalog of collections in the arts.

The museum contains pieces of decorative arts of Brazilian, Oriental and European origin.

[1] The museum includes works of art by brazilian artists José Teófilo de Jesus, José Joaquim da Rocha, Alberto Valença, Mendonça Filho and Presciliano Silva.

[7] The museum also houses collections of the historian Góis Calmon.

[9] In 2017, the museum organized an exhibition of Judite Pimentel's artwork.