The regional Museum of Antofagasta is one of twenty-six museums under the jurisdiction of the Chilean office of libraries, archives and museums.

Museum of Antofagasta is currently housed in two buildings declared historical monuments. Its permanent exhibition is located in the former customs building, which was built in 1867. In 1972 it was declared a National historic landmark. Library, video library, laboratory and administrative offices of the local history Museum housed in the former Maritime authority, built in 1910. In 1978, he was also made the list of National historic monuments of Chile.

Museum of Antofagasta is a non - profit. Its work is aimed at the preservation and dissemination of the culture of prehistoric coastal settlements and preservation of the heritage of Antofagasta. This institution was founded as a historical Museum in 1964 under the leadership of former Northern University. After twenty years of hard and fruitful work at the University priceless collections of the Museum were transferred to the division of libraries, archives and museums of Chile. Thus in 1984, he became the Regional Museum of Antofagasta.

In 2008, due to the restructuring of the Museum space, opened 12 new permanent historical, archaeological, geological, and public exhibitions, auditorium, Assembly hall for temporary and travelling exhibitions in the field of cultural communication, for research and creative purposes. Qualified professionals carry out within the walls of the Museum tours, workshops, lectures on anthropology, archaeology and history. You can also use the library to enhance knowledge in the field of historical heritage of the region.

Visiting the two-storey building of the Museum, you will learn a lot of information on pre-Columbian history, the history of the Spanish conquest and modern heritage of Antofagasta, the actual mining capital of the world.