Then, the specimens were moved to a room above an old vegetable market when Hugh Brooke Low's collections arrived from the Rajang River.

In addition, it displays archaeological artifacts and reconstructions of examples of the traditional life of the indigenous peoples, and of their arts and crafts.

[9][10] The galleries are lit by dormer windows on the roof, making wall space available for exhibit displays and collections.

[4][11] The ground floor of the museum holds the natural history collection and specimens of Sarawak fauna – reptiles, mammals, birds, etc., all expertly prepared and mounted for display.

The museum has been proclaimed guardian of the national patrimony, with the responsibility to search for, acquire and protect antiquities and historical monuments.

The museum director is also responsible for protecting marine turtles and assisting the chief game warden in the conservation of wildlife.

It was first published in 1911, with John Moulton the inaugural editor,[13] making it one of the oldest scientific journals of the South-East Asian region.