Archaeological Museum of Osijek was founded in 1877 and was called the Museum of the free royal city of Osijek. The museum was founded on the initiative and on donations (numismatic collection, a collection of ancient weapons and literature) merchant Franjo Sedlakovicha. In 1878, the first curator of the museum was appointed Andrei Kodrik. In the first decades of the museum filled solely by donations from wealthy and prominent citizens of the city of Osijek, which included Franjo Sedlakovich Carl Nuber, Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Emerick Hilda and Dr. Karl Kollich. This collection has been and remains the largest donation in the history of the museum.

One of the famous curators was Vjekoslav Celestin - curator of the museum since 1893. He worked in the museum almost 43 years old, was a diligent worker and professional. This confirms the fact that he is known museums in Croatia and abroad. He performed most of the work: worried about the completion and presentation of the museum's collections, carried out a systematic review of the documentation, starting from the archaeological site and ending ethnographic materials. Celestine for his work is rightly considered one of the founders of the museum. By the end of tenure of the curator in 1933 he founded the Archaeological Society Club "Moores" (in 1937 it was renamed the Society of Friends of Antiquities "Moores"), which was an important contribution to the work of the museum.

Museum throughout its history often changed its location. And since 1946, and to this day it is in Osijek Citadel - a former City Council.

During the war, the museum was severely damaged, but fortunately, the entire collection has remained almost untouched. The worst damage was caused by rain collection and improper storage. The permanent exhibition was taken to a safe place. But during the constant shelling, the work of the museum has been suspended. In 1994, the museum was given the status of a national institution.