Grampian Transport Museum can trace its history back to the early 1970's when a number of local enthusiasts became conscious of the fact that there was a very active interest in historic transport in the North East of Scotland. They began to discuss the possibilities of establishing a permanent museum of transport to focus this interest and energy.

In 1978 at a well attended public meeting in Aberdeen, the Grampian Transport Museum Association was formed. The new Association's main objective was to work towards the establishment of a Transport Museum and thereafter to administer and develop the Museum.

Sites in Aberdeen were rejected in favour of the offer of a unit in rural Aberdeenshire at Alford, 25 miles west of Aberdeen, after the Grampian Regional Council expressed an interest in the new association. The Council also agreed to make available an area of uncultivated land and the remains of a railway station for use by the association.

Fundraising then began in earnest, most notably in the form of the annual Alford Cavalcade (now 'Motorvation'), an ambitious vintage vehicle rally, held during July. The derelict carriage shed adjacent to the railway station was restored almost immediately and plans were laid for the reconstruction of the station building for use as a Railway Museum and for the construction of an exhibition hall to house road transport exhibits.

In May 1981 a pilot scheme was set up to determine the viability of the proposed museum. A temporary exhibition was housed in a factory unit close to the station. This proved successful and so plans forged ahead.

A major breakthrough came in July 1981 when the E.E.C. and G.R.C. offered grants to cover the cost of building the new exhibition hall and restoring the station building

Building work was completed in September 1982 and the Museum in its present form opened in April 1983.

A major extension was built in 1998 to house a new collections care facility, cafe and workshop, with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Current development plans include improved education, retail and catering facilities, and a large item store.

Grampian Transport Museum is administered by The Grampian Transport Museum Trust, a registered charity.