Opened in 1998, the museum's 9 history halls houses the Turkmenistan’s major collection of artifacts discovered at various excavation sites in Turkmenistan.

These include the ivory rythons found at Nissa, and the Merw vase and Buddha head found at Merw, and one of the biggest hand -made carpets in the world, a good collection of Turkmenistan jewelry and costumes. In front of the museum stands the tallest unsupported flagpole in the world.