Museum exhibits are housed in the distinctive former City Hall for the City of Chilliwack. This building, now a National Historic site, was constructed in 1911/1912. Thomas Hooper, the architect, was familiar to local residents through other buildings that he designed in Chilliwack including the Coqualeetza Director's house (ca.1896), the A.C.Wells' retirement house (1897), the Chilliwack High School (1912). In 1980, the City of Chilliwack amalgamated with the Township of Chilliwhack creating a new entity, the District of Chilliwack. Since then another name change has occurred, a reversion to the earlier name, the City of Chilliwack. Amalgamation meant that the City Hall building became available for Museum use.

In 1987, the Chilliwack Museum moved into the former City Hall. Permanent exhibits on the ground floor trace the history of the area beginning with exhibits about the Sto:lo The second floor offers changing exhibits that often focus on unique aspects of the community's past. A small gift shop features British Columbia history books as well as unique crafts and jewelery.