The Museum, founded with the aim of remembering the civil and cultural tradition of the city and its territory, and to continue and develop it through research and studies, was inaugurated on June 28, 1991.

It is located on the second floor of Palazzo Forte and includes:

- a significant collection of local ceramic production from the 12th to the 21st century

- newspapers and journalism in Ariane

- Historical Archives of the Municipality

- Rare and valuable printed editions from the 15th and 16th centuries

- Library

- Photo library

- Conference room.

The enhancement of the section "of the ancient popular majolica of Ariano" is the main objective of the Museum, which currently presents a collection of ceramic artifacts of about 250 pieces. To these faenze are to be added the finds that copiously flow to the Museum, dating from the ninth century to the end of 1400, from sporadic finds and excavations conducted in local dumps, recently identified along the ancient city walls. The Museum, which has become a cultural point of reference every day, receives continuous visits from scholars, students, expert collectors, art critics, potters and enthusiasts from all over the world. Eve BoorsooK, of The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaisasance Studies, friend and collaborator of the Whitehouse, amazed, dreamy and grateful, left this memory of her: "I’ll write down the great joy that you and your Museum have given me. Ceramics radiate joy and celebration of life expressed with elegant invention, everything is exposed with so much affection, care and good taste: a model for all". The purpose of the Museum, therefore, is not only to collect and preserve testimonies, but also to submit and discuss problems, communicating and stimulating reflections and evaluations, always oriented to the realization of opportunities and initiatives to support craft activities.