The Museum of Visual Materials was founded by Dr. Rose Faithe not only to share her eclectic collection of artefacts with the public but also to use the museum as a way of preserving the original architecture and vision of its building. The museum is also proud to be the state?s first building to have received platinum certification LEED certification as a green or environmentally friendly structure.

The museum?s collection is housed in the 1887 building originally owned by the Consolidated Tank Line Company, which is located in the historic warehouse district of the city. In 1896, the building then served as Standard Oil Company?s Midwest offices until 1945. Afterwards, it served as the distribution site for Seagram Products of the Midland Distributing Company until the mid-1980s. It then remained unoccupied until Dr. Faithe herself selected the property as the ideal location for her collection.

Renovations of the building were entrusted to the Koch Hazard Architects, who then gutted interior spaces until only the original woodwork and quartzite rubble walls remained. Paint applied by its subsequent owners were sandblasted to reveal the original color scheme as well.