The Assam State Museum was founded by the Kamrupa Anusandhan Samity and was opened on 21st April, 1940 by Sir Robert Reid, the then Governor of Undivided Assam. The Provincial Museum was taken over by the Govt. of Assam in 1953 and placed under the Museums and Archaeology of the Education Department. Subsequently, for systematic and efficient management two separate entities i.e. Directorate of Museums and Archaeology was made in 1983.