The concept of the Intercontinental Slavery Museum is based on a museum of hope and expectation for the new generation. It will provide the opportunity to the population to study the evils of slavery and other contemporary systems of human rights abuse. Museum will have an important role to play in promoting social justice as well as identity. The purpose of the museum is to give more visibility to slavery and slave trade in the Indian Ocean, promote slave history, and emphasize the contribution of the African Diaspora in the world development.

The site is part of the Ex-Military Hospital, which is one of the oldest buildings of the island and is, highly significant in the history of slavery, as it was constructed by slaves in the 1740s. The building is located on a plot of land of an extent of 6,300 m2.

The hospital is classified as a National Heritage and also forms an integral part of the Aapravasi Ghat World Heritage Site. Since the building is categorized as grade 3, only minor internal modifications will be made to it and the architectural character of facades will be restored.