The Canadian War Museum was formally opened at the War Trophies Building in January 1942; initially operated by the Dominion Archives, and partially funded by the Department of National Defence.
In 1958, management of the Canadian War Museum was assumed by the National Museum of Canada (later renamed the Canadian Museum of History).

The museum relocated to the original Dominion Archives building, adjacent to the War Trophies building on June 1967; after the Public Archives of Canada moved its operations to a new facility.
However, the museum continued to use the War Trophies building as a storage facility.
In the same year, management the war museum was assumed by the National Museums of Canada Corporation; a crown corporation that managed several national institutions, including the war museum.

In 1983 the museum relocated its storage facilities from the War Trophies building to Vimy House; with the former building demolished to make way for the National Gallery of Canada's new building.
In 1990, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (later renamed the Canadian Museum of History Corporation) was formed through The Museum Act, and assumed management of several national museums of Canada, including the war museum.
By this time, museum's staff had voiced out that the space in the building was inadequate, with some areas of the building deemed environmentally hazardous for the exhibition of certain artifacts.
In 1991, the government established the Task Force on Military History Museum Collections in Canada, whose final report called for more resources to be given to the museum, referring to its shape in the original Dominion Archives building as "embarrassing," and a "national disgrace."
Although the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation invest C$1.7 million for new exhibit designs as a result of the report; federal funds for the museum remained limited with the government implementing a number of austerity measures during the mid-1990s.
A museum's supporter's group, the "Friends of the Canadian War Museum" was established in 1995 to assist the museum in fundraising efforts.

Between 1996 to 1997, the museum considered opening a large Holocaust exhibition within the museum.
In addition to the exhibition, the architectural expansion plans released in November 1997 included enhanced exhibit spaces, a theatre, and a memorial chamber.
However, the proposed exhibit was opposed by Canadian veterans, who felt a sense of neglect from the museum, and believed an exhibition on the Holocaust would further marginalize them; in addition to some historians who believed the museum was an inadequate space for such an exhibition.
Following events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War passed, public debate over the museum's future intensified; with the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs convening a hearing in February 1998 to determine future of the exhibition and the museum itself.
Following the Senate Subcommittee hearings, the chair of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, Adrienne Clarkson announced that while plans to expand the museum would continue, the plans for the Holocaust exhibition would be abandoned.
Barney Danson was later appointed to the board of trustees and the war museum advisory committee; who increased the museum's research capacity, and the establishment of the Centre of Military History.
Danson later secured for the museum the acquisition of property near CFB Rockcliffe.
 
In March 2000, the Government of Canada formally announced plans to build a new museum building at CFB Rockcliffe.
However, in 2001, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien intervened to have the proposed location changed to LeBreton Flats, former industrial lands.
The site was rejected earlier during planning as the area was contaminated, although Chrétien proposed that they would decontaminate the area; with the museum serving as the centrepiece revitalization efforts of that area.
In 2001, a design submitted by Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects was s
The Canadian War Museum was formally opened at the War Trophies Building in January 1942; initially operated by the Dominion Archives, and partially funded by the Department of National Defence. In 1958, management of the Canadian War Museum was assumed by the National Museum of Canada (later renamed the Canadian Museum of History). 
The museum relocated to the original Dominion Archives building, adjacent to the War Trophies building on June 1967; after the Public Archives of Canada moved its operations to a new facility. However, the museum continued to use the War Trophies building as a storage facility. In the same year, management the war museum was assumed by the National Museums of Canada Corporation; a crown corporation that managed several national institutions, including the war museum. 
In 1983 the museum relocated its storage facilities from the War Trophies building to Vimy House; with the former building demolished to make way for the National Gallery of Canada's new building. In 1990, the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation (later renamed the Canadian Museum of History Corporation) was formed through The Museum Act, and assumed management of several national museums of Canada, including the war museum. By this time, museum's staff had voiced out that the space in the building was inadequate, with some areas of the building deemed environmentally hazardous for the exhibition of certain artifacts. In 1991, the government established the Task Force on Military History Museum Collections in Canada, whose final report called for more resources to be given to the museum, referring to its shape in the original Dominion Archives building as "embarrassing," and a "national disgrace." Although the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation invest C$1.7 million for new exhibit designs as a result of the report; federal funds for the museum remained limited with the government implementing a number of austerity measures during the mid-1990s. A museum's supporter's group, the "Friends of the Canadian War Museum" was established in 1995 to assist the museum in fundraising efforts. 
Between 1996 to 1997, the museum considered opening a large Holocaust exhibition within the museum. In addition to the exhibition, the architectural expansion plans released in November 1997 included enhanced exhibit spaces, a theatre, and a memorial chamber. However, the proposed exhibit was opposed by Canadian veterans, who felt a sense of neglect from the museum, and believed an exhibition on the Holocaust would further marginalize them; in addition to some historians who believed the museum was an inadequate space for such an exhibition. Following events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War passed, public debate over the museum's future intensified; with the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs convening a hearing in February 1998 to determine future of the exhibition and the museum itself. Following the Senate Subcommittee hearings, the chair of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, Adrienne Clarkson announced that while plans to expand the museum would continue, the plans for the Holocaust exhibition would be abandoned. Barney Danson was later appointed to the board of trustees and the war museum advisory committee; who increased the museum's research capacity, and the establishment of the Centre of Military History. Danson later secured for the museum the acquisition of property near CFB Rockcliffe.  
In March 2000, the Government of Canada formally announced plans to build a new museum building at CFB Rockcliffe. However, in 2001, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien intervened to have the proposed location changed to LeBreton Flats, former industrial lands. The site was rejected earlier during planning as the area was contaminated, although Chrétien proposed that they would decontaminate the area; with the museum serving as the centrepiece revitalization efforts of that area. In 2001, a design submitted by Moriyama & Teshima Architects and Griffiths Rankin Cook Architects was s
Canadian War Museum