Founded in 1997, the Chapel Hill Museum has its collections housed in a 1968 building that once served as the Chapel Hill Public Library. The structure boasts of contemporary designs that complement the traditional architectural features of the city’s buildings, like stone walls. When the building was relocated to a newer facility at Estes Drive, the building became a home to various factions, including the Chapel Hill Historical Society. At present, the museum has a pair of main exhibit halls and two gallery spaces in its second floor. There is also a volunteer room, a director’s office, and a workroom-slash-kitchen upstairs. Also available at the site are offices of the Chapel Hill Historical Society, the museum’s archives storage area, and a meeting room that’s available for rentals.

Besides the twelve different exhibits making up the museum’s permanent collection, traveling exhibits are also available at the main exhibit halls.

In 2010, the Chapel Hill Museum closed during the summer due to financial difficulties but has been able to steadily recover its footing since then.