The museum is actively engaged in the preservation and restoration of Peru's historical legacy. Its archaeological collection comprises pottery, gold, wooden artifact’s and textiles from the Vicus, Mochica, Nasca, Lambayeque, Chimu, Chancay, Chavin, and Inca civilizations. The art gallery houses works by outstanding Peruvian painters representing all schools and styles. The display follows a modern museological design and is located in the former Central Bank vaults.

A recently inaugurated exhibit captures Peru's wealth of cultural diversity and reflects folk artists' ability to transform utilitarian objects into artworks. It includes ceremonial textiles, pottery, furniture and jewellery from all regions in Peru. Among the highlights of the collection are glazed pottery objects dating back to the transition period from colonial time to independence, miniature altar pieces (in Spanish ‘retablos’) representing Saint James, named the Indian Killer (Santiago Mataindios), and paintings with natural pigments on ojé tree bark (tree common in the rainforest) by the Bora people of the Peruvian jungle.

The art gallery houses works by outstanding Peruvian painters representing all schools and styles, from early republican masters such as Gil de Castro and Pancho Fierro to young contemporary artists. Located on the second floor of the museum and framed by the building's original early 20th century iron structure, the exhibit has become a reference point for those interested in Peruvian art. It includes a small but important selection of religious paintings from the colonial period.

The initial collections of the museum go back to the time of the foundation of the bank and considerable attention has been given to the works and illustrations of local Peruvian artists. The collections displayed in the museum today have been made possible by the determination of the bank management and so the institution achieved to be among the most important contributors to the national cultural heritage. The museum was founded 1980 by the former bank president, Dr. Manuel Moreyra Loredo, in a wonderful republican building, located on the corner of the Jirón Lampa and Jirón Ucayali (‘Jirón’ is an old Spanish word for ‘street’ used in Lima only – apart from the better known ‘Calle’). The museum is opened its doors to the public in 1982 with the archaeological collection, the coin collection and republican paintings.

Today the museum incorporates significant collections, where particularly the picture gallery with more than 400 pieces has to be mentioned. The art gallery is of distinct quality and has developed to an exemplary exhibit of contemporary Peruvian paintings. It’s worth a visit for every art lover (The pieces from exquisite Peruvian masters date back to 1821 until today).

In the exhibits you will find beautiful pieces from different period and artists:

• Early works by: Gil de Castro
• Social background related by: Pancho Fierro
• Academic by: Ignacio Merino, Francisco Laso and Luis Montero
• New-academic by: Daniel Hernández, Teófilo Castillo and Baca Flor
• Native by: José Sabogal, Julia Codesido, Teresa Carvallo and Camilo Blas
• Independent by: Ricardo Grau, Macedonio de la Torre, Adolfo Winternitz, Manuel Ugarte Elespuru, etc.
• Modern by: Szyszlo, G. Chávez, Tilsa Tsuchiya, E.Galdos, V. Shinki and others
• Today's modern by: R. Wiesse, J. Pastorelli, Carlos Revilla, Ramiro Llona, José Tola, Enrique Polanco, A.

The approach of the museum with the acquisitions for the archaeological collection shows the interest of the bank to preserve the cultural heritage. At first only a small arrangement of ceramics from the Nasca culture (147 parts) was acquired. Later a significant larger amount of parts (a collection which was originally in the possession of the ‘Banco Popular’) increased the display with about 2,300 exhibits (including pieces from Vicús, Moche, Nasca, Chimu, Chavin).

Only recently the government decided that this museum is able to take over the responsibility for an extremely valuable number of pieces which were confiscated in the USA (820 confiscated parts from the collector Bernstein). The extensive collections of the museum now contain more than 4,000 exhibits.

This new collection enriched the museum with more than 500 parts of gold and silver art work (possession of Mr. Roberto Letts Colmenares). The objects of incredible quality contain pieces primarily from the following cultures: Nasca, Lambayeque and Mochica.

The collection is displayed in the banks vault behind the impressive doors of the strong room (just the right setup for these fantastic pieces). You’ll be astonished to admire the old craft art of the early gold and silver work, grave masks, tools (such as Tumis) and different decorations and ornaments. This hall was opened in September, 2006.

The showroom for folk art was established in August 2004. Here approx. 2,000 exhibits are shown from the possession of Mrs. Nadia Carnero. The pieces in the collection will give you a good overview of the craft works of artists and their different technologies with various materials (wood, silver and gold).

There are very old pieces from the 16th and 17th century, but also newer works which give a good impression about the permanent changes and influences in the folk art. The artists reflect in their pieces traditions and customs of different geographical environments.