The importance of knowledge organization and information retrieval techniques has been evident throughout human history, becoming even more crucial in the digital age. While computer systems and the web have facilitated information retrieval, challenges arose with the increasing volume of data. The introduction of Semantic Web technologies aimed to enhance precision and accuracy by converting the web into a structured data format. The Cultural Heritage (CH) community has been at the forefront of adopting Semantic Web practices to promote interoperability and shared understanding. In this study, we present a comprehensive conceptual framework that spans cultural heritage, information modeling, and information retrieval. Our model addresses early solutions in knowledge organization systems, highlighting the evolution from classification systems and controlled vocabularies to the significance of metadata schemas. We delve into the limitations of traditional knowledge organization systems and the necessity of formal ontologies, particularly in the cultural heritage domain. The comparative analysis of CRM vs. EDM, ontology-based metadata interoperability, and ontology technologies elucidate our contributions to the field. This paper outlines the process from the initial steps of adopting Semantic Web technologies in the CH domain to the latest developments in CH information retrieval. In this paper, we also reviewed intelligent applications and services developed in the CH domain after establishing semantic data models and Knowledge Organization Systems. Finally, challenges and possible future research directions are discussed. The findings revealed that GLAMs (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) are excellent and comprehensive sources of CH information. The CH community has put in a lot of time and effort to develop data models and knowledge organization tools; now it’s time to use this valuable resource to construct smart applications that are still in their early phases. This could benefit the CH industry even more.