The museum was founded by the North Cape local history society in 1981, and from 1997 it was owned by the North Cape local authority (Nordkapp Municipality). From 2006, Nordkappmuseet unites with the museums in Hammerfest, Måsøy, Gamvik and Berlevåg. The new company is called Museene for kyst og gjenreisning i Finnmark. The unit is organized as an inter-authority company with its central office in Honningasvaag. Annually, Nordkappmuseet is entered by approximently 10,000 visitors from all over the world.
