The museum was founded by Jean, Lady Maitland who gave her collections to the nation in the 1950s.

[3] The museum was housed in a terraced row of six cottages built in 1793 and one farm steading.

The buildings were given by Timothy Bowes-Lyon, 16th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne to house the museum collections.

[2] It was given a 3 star rating by the Scottish Tourist Board.

The museum closed permanently in 2017 due to structural problems discovered in its buildings.