The museum is located in the historic Briggs Hardware Building on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh and has a number of exhibits and programs that are free to the public.

In 1991 widespread support was shown for the museum and initial steps were taken toward making the dream a reality.

In 1998 the museum moved to the first floor of the newly restored Briggs Hardware Building on Fayetteville Street in the heart of downtown Raleigh.

The museum offers a variety of exhibits and educational programs on various aspects of the history of the city.

It also maintains an extensive collection of Raleigh photographs and artifacts as a part of its service to the city.