On March 19, 1900, at the proposal of the patriot and collector Oscar Maria de Rojas, the museum was founded, second institution of its kind in the country. It has important collections of arts, geology, melachology, numismatics, history, and natural sciences among others.

The building that is the Municipal Museum of Cardenas Oscar Maria de Rojas was opened in 1862. It was built as required by the neoclassical style constructions, and its original use was as council building of the city.