The archaeological Museum of La Serena, located in the centre of the city. It was opened on 3 April 1943. In 1948 the Museum was transferred under the management of the Department of libraries, archives and museums. The building, which currently houses the Archaeological Museum of La Serena was built during implementation of the project of reconstruction of the towns of the province of Coquimbo "Plan Serena" from 1948 to 1952, during the reign of President Gabriel gonzález Seen. This project gave an impetus to the economic development, culture and tourism in the provincial region of Coquimbo.

Currently the Archaeological Museum of La Serena has a valuable collection of cultures of Atacama and Coquimbo. In addition, here is a monumental exhibit of the culture of the Moai in the hall devoted to Easter island, and there are examples of cave drawings from Los Pelambres (Salamanca) from the valley Choapa.

Also in the Archaeological Museum is an anthropological and historical library, which has in its archives the ancient colonial manuscripts and archives of Newspapers and journals published in the region from the XVII to the XX century. The Museum has a photo archive with a large series of black and white and color images of archaeological and ethnographic research, etc.

Stone portal of the Museum building in the Baroque style dates back to 1820, he was part of the facade of the old colonial mansion, which belonged to count josé Pardo de Figueroa Recabarren - the mayor of La Serena in 1791. In 2012, the Museum was expanded with the construction of another corps, intended to increase the area of the exhibition halls. In 2014 the reconstruction of the exhibition halls of the old Museum building.