The Rundāle Palace Museum began to operate in 1964 as a branch of the Museum of Regional Studies and Art of Bauska and became an independent entity in 1972. 

Important area of activity for the Museum alongside of the restoration of the Rundāle Palace was to survey and document Latvia’s cultural heritage. In 1960s – 1980s Museum organized around 70 survey expeditions and visited more than 3000 objects. In 1970s – 1980s at the invitation of various organisations or individuals, the specialists of the Rundāle Palace Museum carried out a more detailed examination of the more than 50 buildings and sites.

 The Soviet authorities at the time did not support the preservation of historic buildings, and sacral architecture and art were considered particularly troublesome. The Rundāle Palace Museum was one of the few entities that dared to save church equipment, objects and architectural details of buildings from the likely destruction, and one of the first in Latvia to undertake in-depth research of cultural and historical sites. 

The Museum’s scientific archive and collection, which store materials and objects obtained during expeditions, are accessible to all interested parties. The restoration of objects from the expeditions continues and they are included in the Museum’s displays and exhibitions, which, as well as various publications, testify to the work carried out in the field of research.