The archaeological excavations started in 1960 by American and Canadian scientists in the ancient city of Anamurium led to the idea of building a museum in the Anamur district. The first foundation of the museum building was laid in 1976 on the land allocated in the Yalıevleri neighbourhood, and after the completion of the construction works in 1990, the museum was opened to visitors in 1992. The museum is divided into archaeological and ethnographic sections. In the hall where the archaeological artefacts are exhibited, besides the findings of the ancient city of Anamurium, there are local artefacts brought from the museums of Alanya and Silifke. Among the most important artefacts in the museum are the tombs from the ancient cities of Kelenderis and Nagidos, a floor mosaic from the 5th century B.C., funerary and votive objects from the 4th - 3rd centuries B.C., terracotta oil lamps from Anamurium, a bronze statue of Athena from the Roman period and bronze weights. There is a large collection of amphorae in the museum, which reflect the maritime trade of the region in ancient times and provide detailed information on it. The ethnographic section displays the most notable examples of traditional art that reflect the region's cultural heritage.
