The museum was founded in 1978 by the local Museum and History Association. Assisted by the local population, the association collected photographs and artifacts, thus forming the foundation of the museum’s collections. in 1998, Gamvik Museum moved from its former location in the school building into the newly restored fishery "Brodtkorbbruket", which offers a truly authentic setting for a museum dedicated to the cultural history of the fishing villages of Gamvik municipality. Gamvik Museum became part of the new administrative entity named "The museums for coastal heritage and reconstruction of Finnmark" in 2006.