Prior to 1982 the museum was located in the former carriage house of Nathan Barnert, civic figure and philanthropist.

They also have paintings of old hospital assistants, and how life back in the infirmary was in the early years.

A large collection of early Colt firearms and the façade of a playhouse built by Lou Costello for his children are also on display.

There is a display of industrial equipment from the former silk-weaving factories that used to be a prominent part of Paterson's economy, including automated looms.

Lovecraft's 1935 short story "The Haunter of the Dark" includes an artifact called the Shining Trapezohedron; it has been proposed that Lovecraft based this artifact on a trapezoidal piece of almandine on display at the Paterson Museum.