[1] The idea of starting a museum was conceived by members of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society (RACS) of British Guiana.

When RACS was established in 1844,[2] one of its aims was to construct a Museum to house local minerals, soils, timbers, fruits, seeds, gums, resins, dyes and drugs, as well as the flora and fauna of the country.

Campbell presented gifts (including 55 indigenous woods, minerals from England, and specimens of botany and geology) to the RACS in order to start a Museum Collection.

A British Guiana Museum Company was established in 1867 for the construction of a building "which should be the permanent home of science, art, and industry."

Other curators who made noteworthy contributions were John Joseph Quelch, James Rodway and Dr Walter Roth.

In 1934, the Georgetown Public Free Library received a second story, made possible through grants from the Carnegie Corporation, which was used to house the Museum collections.

Then governor, Sir Gordon Lethem, met with government officials on 16 March 1945 to propose the construction of a cultural centre on the site of the destroyed British Guiana Museum.

The new museum building at North Road and Hincks Street was reopened on 28 July 1951[5] by the Officer Administering the Government, John Gutch.