The collection of the West Virginia State Museum finds its beginnings with the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society. The West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society was organized in the Senate Chamber of the State House in Charleston on January 30, 1890. When it was first created, the organization had limited state support but found its home to showcase its collection on the first floor of the capitol.

On April 3, 1894, Governor William A. MacCorkle held a reception to announce the opening of the West Virginia State Museum in the 1885 West Virginia State Capitol building located at the head of Capitol Street in downtown Charleston. At this point, the museum exhibited artifacts that were once part of the West Virginia Building at the Columbian Exposition at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois in addition to the valuable collection of the Historical Society that were already on exhibit.

The next day, an article in the newspaper applauded the large turnout for the event as well as the efforts of Governor MacCorkle, Colonel Bob Carr, Colonel A.D. MacCorkle, and Captain John Baker White.

Both collections continued to be exhibited together and on Feburary 18, 1905, an act of legislature officially declared the collection of the Historical Society to be a part of the West Virginia State Museum. When this legislation to combine both collections was passed, additional funding and a new home for the museum was found.

The West Virginia State Museum moved to the Capitol Annex that had been completed in 1903. This move turned out to be a great move for the early museum collection, as it saved it from the capitol fire of 1921.

Once Cass Gilbert's 1932 design of the West Virginia State Capitol was completed, the museum's collection was placed on exhibit in the basement. However, by the early 1970s, it was determined that the State Museum had outgrown its space in the Capitol building's basement and needed its own facility where it could continue to preserve and showcase the wonderful treasures of its collection.

On July 11, 1976, the West Virginia Science and Culture Center opened with beautiful state of the art exhibitions of history and culture. To this day, the collection is still housed in this environmentally-controlled modern facility.

In June of 2009, new renovations for the West Virginia State Museum were completed and museum re-opened its exhibitions and art displays with updated, modern conservation mounts, scenic beauty, and architectural design elements that will help to preserve the collection for generations to come.

Also, what's up with those dressed Fleas?