The Butler Museum and Historical Committee was established in 1997. Prior to its official establishment, the Butler Historical Committee has already been looking for a place that can house local artifacts that faced that threat of being damaged, destroyed, discarded, or lost. After a series of location transfers, some items had already been lost and destroyed in the old Mace House serving as the storage facility for these artifacts.

Through the efforts of the people from the Butler High School including its students in the Junior Officials program, the purchase of the old, abandoned New York, Susquehanna and Western railroad station was brought up to turn it into a museum.

The Museum opened to the public on May 20, 1977. The 3 original rooms of the historic 1888 station were filled with significant items from the history of Borough. All the artifacts that were displayed in the Museum were either loaned or donated by individuals, businesses, and community groups that were interested in preserving family histories as well as the Borough history.

Today, the Museum?s collection consists of items that reflect the military involvement of the country in wars and conflicts from the Civil War to the Desert Storm, information about the industrial and institutional background of the area, and items that bear a connection to some famous people and symbols.