The museum was opened in 2018 when the embassy of Spain to South Africa partnered with the Castle of Good Hope, University of Cape Town, and other stakeholders to commemorate the 500 years of the voyages of Elcano and Magdelene and it is located under the former governors’ offices in the Castle. In the museum, there are documentaries describing the voyages and a small replication of the inside of a ship, which will appeal more to family groups. The exhibition is around what used to be the medieval kitchens under the offices and with architecture of the 17^th century.

The museum focuses on one of the first known voyages around the seas of the world, focusing on the experiences in the Americas, Southeast Asia and Africa, the losses suffered during the long trips.