The Sarawak Islamic Heritage Museum was declared open by the Right Honorable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, the Chief Minister of Sarawak on the 22nd May 1992. Initially built as a school, it was known as James Brooke Malay College.

Later known as Madrasah Melayu Sarawak in 1930, the building was specially used as a college to train more teachers in higher Malay studies "to help the Malay to help himself by fitting him to take an active and useful part in the life of his own community" (Sarawak Gazette, March 2nd, 1931). The mission schools at that time were doing excellent work on English while there was a lack of qualified Malay teachers.

The building has a raised floor and is rectangular in plan with three annexes enclosing two inner courtyards. The architecture of the building is unique and it is said to be the only one of its kind in the State. It is mostly made of concrete and timber while the roof is of bricks.

The primary objectives in setting up this museum is to present to the people of Sarawak as well as to visitors the splendor and the beauty of Islamic Civilization. In other words, with the establishment of this museum it is hoped that the public will have greater appreciation and understanding on the contribution of Islam to human civilization.

This Museum consists of seven galleries. Each of the galleries displays items that are related to a particular discipline as the following;