The museum is housed in County Buildings on Regent Street, in Wrexham's city centre.

[1][2] The building, designed by Thomas Penson, was a former militia barracks and later a police station and Magistrates' court.

[3][4] In 1996, following the formation of Wrexham County Borough, the local council set up a museum in the then vacant building.

[4] The museum was partly refurbished in the 1990s, with a new wing of the building built to replace a World War II-built structure.

[8] In 2010–2011, a glass extension was added to the front of the building, as well as a museum-wide refurbishment, reopening on 14 February 2011.

[9] In July 2016, plans to transfer control of the museum as well as Wrexham Library to a culture trust or NPDO, were scrapped.

The proposal was part of wider plans to outsource the council's Libraries, Heritage and Archives Services, in hope to generate more income.