The ICR was formed by Henry M. Morris in 1972 following an organizational split with the Creation Science Research Center (CSRC). Its work in the field of creation science has been thoroughly rejected by essentially all mainstream scientists, but has been significant in shaping anti-evolutionist thought in the United States by introducing creation science through churches and religious schools, and by engaging in provocative public debates against supporters of evolution. The ICR also offers unaccredited graduate level programs in creation science and online distance learning training. In 1992, the ICR started the Museum of Creation and Earth History and hosted adventure tours, but it was sold to Life and Light Foundation in 2008.

The ICR was founded as a research institution devoted to challenging the study of biological evolution and finding empirical evidence to support the Biblical account of the origins of heaven and earth given in Genesis. Its founders and faculty embrace belief in Young Earth Creationism, judging the earth to be no more than 10 thousand years old, and strongly rejecting the scientific community's current estimate of 4.54 billion years. The institute denies the conclusions formed by most current scientists in the disciplines of biology, paleontology, physics, chemistry, and geology, whose estimates converge and resoundingly support evolution. The ICR also questions the biological concept of descent with modification through evolution via random mutation and natural selection of inherited genetic information. The institute instead asserts that speciation only occurs within the boundaries of a kind as described in the Bible, and argues all variations among living organisms are only differing manifestations of pre-existing genetic information fixed at the moment of the kinds' special creation.

In 1961, Henry Morris and John C. Whitcomb published The Genesis Flood, a seminal work that claimed to provide the scientific rationale for Young Earth creationism. Its authors accept the Bible as a literal account of historical origins, including not only a special, separate creation of humans and all other kinds of plants and animals, but also the historicity of the Deluge myth and subsequent account of Noah's Ark. The Genesis Flood was the first significant 20th-century effort to present a scientific rationale for special creationism. The field of creation science has been further developed in later books and pamphlets authored by Morris and others who were inspired by him.

Though the name "Institute for Creation Research" was adopted in 1972, the organization itself and its founder, Henry M. Morris, date its founding to 1970 with the launch of the Creation Science Research Center (CSRC). Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Epperson v. Arkansas, public schools were no longer allowed to prohibit the teaching of evolution. In response, the California State Board of Education in 1970 approved policy changes which opened the door to the teaching of creationism concurrently with evolution in the sciences. The policy changes passed by the state board of education were the culmination of a several years long campaign first initiated by Nell Segraves, a religious activist motivated by the 1963 Supreme Court ruling in Abington School District v. Schempp which both outlawed officially sanctioned public school prayers and prohibited public schools from either affirming or interfering with religious views. Segraves joined with friend Jean Sumrall in 1966 to petition changes to the way evolution was taught in public schools, and later established Creation Science, Inc. to develop creationist textbooks in anticipation of the successful outcome allowing creationism into the school curriculum.

Creation Science, Inc., merged with the newly planned center for creation studies at Christian Heritage College in San Diego in 1970, forming the CSRC. Segraves and Sumrall were joined by scientist Henry Morris, who had taken a position as vice president of the Christian Heritage College planning to organize the new creation center there. Differences over the political role the center would take led to an organizational split in 1972, and Morris founded ICR that same year. Researcher Dorothy Nelkin suggests disagreements over copyright questions were involved in the split.

Morris intended the ICR to be led by scientists engaged in research and education[citation needed], but viewed the work of the institute as a Christian ministry. These early efforts were channeled in three different areas: research, speaking, and writing. Biochemist Duane T. Gish, who joined the ICR before the division in CSRC, focused on researching the scientific literature for findings supportive of creation science, as well as speaking engagements and public debates with evolutionists. Geologist Stephen A. Austin, working as a visiting scientist until taking a full staff position in 1979, conducted most of its archaeological and geological research, though ICR concentrated most of its resources in the first ten years into writing and speaking out about creation science theory.

Ken Ham, a speaker and sometime biology teacher, worked for the ICR and enjoyed spectacular success with his "Back to Genesis Seminars". In 1994 he left to found what would become Answers in Genesis (AiG). Currently, at least one ICR staff member is also on staff at AiG.

In 1985, the ICR helped Turkey’s education minister Vehbi Dinçerler, introduce creationism in Turkish high schools.

In 1987, the ICR's statement of belief was cited in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Edwards v. Aguillard. Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. wrote that "If no valid secular purpose can be identified, then the statute violates the Establishment Clause." He continued noting information on ICR and Creation Research Society including "a review of their goals and activities sheds light on the nature of creation science." He then explained, "the intent of the Louisiana Legislature was to promote a particular religious belief" and the court ruled that teaching creationism was unconstitutional.

In 2007, the institute relocated from Santee, California, to Dallas, Texas. Morris said the move was intended to give the ICR a central national location, Dallas' proximity to a major airport, and a larger population for their ministry. For FYE 2007, the Institute had net assets of $7,613,461. In 2009, the ICR had a revenue of $8,042,283 with net assets of $9,857,656.