The Shkodra Historical Museum opened in 1947 under the name “People’s Museum” and was fully established in its present form by 1949. It is located in the city center in a monumental nineteenth-century building, whose significance is enhanced by the nearby clock tower.

The museum’s original collections consisted of donations from Jesuit and Franciscan convents dating to the late nineteenth century, as well as private collections from prominent Shkodra families. Over time, the collections expanded through further donations, purchases, chance discoveries, and archaeological excavations.

In the following years, additional museums and house-museums were created, forming a network of seven museum centers across the city. In 1996, the historical museum was relocated to the restored monumental house of Oso Kuka, where it remains today. The Rozafa Museum, opened in 1987 within the castle, further adds to the cultural importance of Shkodra’s museum heritage.