The museum buildings are on part of the historic grant to Pierce Collits as compensation for loss of trade after the building of Victoria Pass bypassed his Collits Inn at the foot of Mt York. Land was resumed for the Railways when the line extended from Cowra to Canowindra in 1910. The first stage of the Historical Museum was a former one-teacher school moved in 1970 to a corner of Memorial Park in conjunction with the Shire Council. Buildings were gradually extended on land acquired through Council from the Railways.

The museum depicts the development and life of Canowindra from the 1840s. There are vehicles of the horse drawn era and vintage farm implements that reflect the importance of wheat, lucerne and wool.

An authentic slab hut, a woolshed and a tiny weatherboard shop have been relocated to save them from demolition and house thematic displays.

The main building displays articles of household use, wedding gowns of local brides from 1886, a Canowindra dental surgery, a bedroom, a nursery, photographs of pioneering families, district schools, churches, Belubula floods and Canowindra’s early village square, a favourite haunt for bushrangers, Ben Hall and gang.

The museum is a source of interest for people of all ages: for seniors it is nostalgic, for the young it is educational. Bus tours and school groups are welcome by appointment and teachers can plan visits to link with units of study. Local history publications and souvenirs are on sale and an archives section offers research facilities by appointment.
 

The Canowindra Tourist Drive and Gaskill Street Walk start outside and members on request act as guides and provide guest speakers on local history.

Joint group tours can be arranged with the Age of Fishes Museum.