[1] The Charlotte Museum's purpose is to collect, preserve, record and display lesbian herstory and cultural heritage.

Subsequently, the Charlotte Museum was set up by Miriam Saphira, Nicola Jackson, Christine Hammerton and Paula Wallis in 2007 to preserve and build up lesbian histories.

[3] Its first physical location was in Surrey Crescent, Grey Lynn, in 2008, a year after the Charlotte Museum Trust had been established.

[3] This charitable trust emerged on 7 May 2007 in recognition of the Charlotte Museum being an organisation that benefits the public at large.

[3][8] In 2018, the Charlotte Museum relocated to New Lynn and then to its current location in Freemans Bay in June 2023.