When opened in 1983, it became one of the most significant museums for urban history in France, dedicated to exhibiting the major archaeological finds discovered after the site was excavated in 1967; at the same time the property was redeveloped commercially and the Centre Bourse shopping arcade constructed.

Gérin Ricard specifies in the book Promenades archeologique published in 1925, that the Greek origin of this wall had been supported by members of the Archaeological Commission as early as 1916.

Closed for several years, the history museum was completely renovated by architect Roland Carta and reopened on September 14, 2013, during Marseille-Provence 2013, European Capital of Culture.

[3] A new museography created by the architect scenographer Adeline Rispal weaves links between the port and commercial history of the site and the powerful architecture of the Bourse shopping centre.

An enhanced digital tour of the historical axis of Marseille, designed by Alain Dupuy (InnoVision), is also offered between the History Museum and the new MuCEM.