In the beginning, in 1929, artifacts from diggings and the surrounding were brought here and stored. In 1964, what is now the museum's southern section was built and artifacts were displayed there. The room was not big enough for the increasing number of artifacts so, in 1995 another section was added and used for exhibition. The Selcuk-Ephesus Museum is the most important and richest museum for possession and sole display of local artifacts. The Ephesus Museum is a rich and important museum for Ephesian and Anatolian archeology with artifacts from digs at Ephesus, St. John' Church, the Belevi Mausoleum, and other local ruins.   
 
 
 Including artifacts from the Mycenian, Archaic, and Turkish periods as well, the majority are from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine periods.

Terrace Houses Room: In the first room of the museum are finds, mainly from the Roman Period, that have come to light over the last fifty years from excavations in the "Hillside Houses". On the left are the plan of the houses and photos of the excavation. In the first showcase are medical and cosmetic artifacts. The second case displays home religious cultic items. The most interesting of these is a glass tray. In the niche opposite is a fresco from one of the houses with a statue of Artemis the huntress and a bust and fresco of Socrates. On the left side of the room are a bust of Emperor Marcus Aurelius and statuettes of the gods Priapos and Bes. Three of the museum's most important possessions are in the central room. These are an Eros with dolphin from the 2nd century, a statue of an Egyptian priest, and a copy of a Roman statue of Eros by Lysippus.