Established in 1854 (4th year of the Xianfeng administration, Ching Dynasty), the Customs has not only enforced anti-smuggling operation and public security, but also propelled the development of our national economy. In order to conserve Customs historical documents and artifacts, the ROC Customs brought up the issue of building the Customs Museum in 1987. After ten years’ efforts, it was finally completed and was open to the public, the admission being free of charge for all visitors.

The Customs Museum is located in the historic district of Dadaocheng, which has its roots in trade and international commerce dating back to the mid-19^th century when Taiwan opened its ports to international trade. The area has since been an integral part of Taiwan’s involvement in the global trading system. By the 20^th century, Dadaocheng had developed into a water and land transportation hub along the railway line.

The Customs Museum at the Ministry of Finance's Customs Administration Building is situated around historical sites such as Dadaocheng Wharf, Beimen (North Gate of Taipei), the Railway Department of Governor-General's Office during the Japanese colonial period, Mitsui Warehouse, Taipei Post Office, and the former Taipei Branch of Osaka Shonen Kaisha (Osaka Mercantile Co., Ltd.), all of which are closely related to the globalization and the integral role customs plays in such affairs. In 2022, the exhibition hall was revamped with a selection of a hundred artifacts combined with contemporary digital technology for a new beginning. November 15, 2024, the Customs Museum reopened with a new look, aiming to present the century-old story of customs and its year-round work and services from a fresh perspective. The Museum seeks to create a knowledge and exploration space for all things Customs related which combines curation, interactive experiences, and education functions.