The James Cook Museum was once a Roman Catholic Convent that fell into disrepair.  Erected as the Convent of St Mary during 1889, it was the first high school in North Queensland.  The convent staff and teachers were evacuated during the Second World War and never returned.

The building underwent a major restoration in 1969 and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II when she visited the town in 1970 for its bi-centenary celebrations.

The museum houses many interesting historic exhibits, including part of the tree that Cook used to secure his damaged ship to the shore of the Endeavour River.  One of the cannon recovered from the site of Cook's collision with the Great Barrier Reef in June 1770 is also on display.