The museum was created by decree law in 13th November 1915 under the designation of Regional Museum of Works of Art, Numismatic and Archaeological Parts of Bragança. In 1935, date of retirement of Baçal Abbot, passes its name to Baçal Abbot Museum, in honour to the scholar, researcher and also Director of the Museum between 1925 and 1935.

It was coated of great importance to the Museum the action of Dr. Raul Teixeira, Director of the Museum between 1935 and 1955. Major driver of the region’s culture and defender of his heritage, played a decisive role in the projection of the institution and in raising significant part of his collection through the excellent relations he had with the cultural and artistic circles of that time. The main collections that integrate the Museum’s collection are Archaeology, Epigraphy, Sacred Art, Painting, Jewellery, Numismatic, Furniture and Ethnography. The collection of the museum, has been gradually enriched through donations, legacies and acquisitions.