The museum is housed within a barrack block and a rock-hewn air-raid shelter within Couvre Porte Counterguard.

The museum is housed within the Couvre Porte, a 17th-century counterguard forming part of the fortifications of Birgu.

During World War II, the barracks were used as a police headquarters, and later as a civil defence centre.

At this point, air-raid shelters for the population of Birgu were dug in the rocks beneath the counterguard.

[2] The Malta at War Museum's collection consists of memorabilia such as weapons, uniforms, medals, documents and other items.