The museum site includes the original 18th-century weavers cottage in which Andrew Carnegie was born and a memorial hall added by James Shearer in 1928.

The Carnegie family were advocates of liberalism, political activism and self-education, and this reputation meant that William struggled to find work within the factory system.

The memorial building, added by the Scottish architect James Shearer between 1925 and 1928, is linked to the cottages by a single storey passage.

It was constructed in 17th century Scottish baronial style with crowstepped gables, and the main hall includes clerestory dormers.

This newer construction is listed in its own right, because of its stylistic interest, as are the boundary walls, which include scrolls and thistle motifs on decorative panels.