[3] Completed in 1939, the Old Coral Gables Police and Fire Station replaced a smaller interim facility located on the southwest corner of Salzedo and Alcazar.

The Police and Fire Station is of architectural distinction through its use of native keystone (oolitic or coral rock) in contrast to the concrete block construction of the Public Service Building.

From initial living room chats with a group of artists, architects and cultural insiders, a dream began to take shape as Withers found that there was substantial interest in the idea.

Eventually the city government as a whole became involved and a plan was formulated to house the museum in the historic 1939 Police and Fire Station.

The City's Historical Resources Department applied for and received over $1.5 million in state and county grants to rehabilitate the building.

Its diverse exhibit and program offerings focused on the civic arts continue to be well received by the South Florida community.