The museum was inaugurated in 1981 in the former Convent of Our Lady of the Assumption. After some repair work over the years, it was decided to subject the property to a deep restoration.

The permanent exhibition deals with 12 themes: one on palaeontology in Tlaxcala, four on the pre-Hispanic era, five on the Viceroyalty, one on the nineteenth century, and one on the Mexican Revolution.

200 pieces are shown with their respective explanatory cards: very old bone remains, ceramics, stone sculpture, obsidian knives, carved and decorated snails, paintings, books, furniture, documents, photographs. The collection covers 5,000 objects, which together with those of recent recovery, such as those found in Quimicho and fine pieces from the 16th and 17th centuries, are now being turned into showcases.