A site dedication ceremony for the privately funded Joe Quinney Winter Sports Center was held August 28, 1999,[1] while construction didn't begin until after the actual groundbreaking on March 28, 2000.

Following the building's completion, it was temporarily turned over to Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) during a ceremony on September 18, 2001.

[3] The grand opening ceremony for the center was held July 5, 2002, and the building included the Engen Ski Museum, a gift shop, café and a temporary Olympic photo exhibit (which would be replaced by a new Olympic museum in later years).

[4] On September 27, 2002, two life-sized statues of Alf Engen and Joe Quinney were unveiled in the Olympic plaza near the building.

An opening celebration for the officially titled "George Eccles Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum" was held June 9, 2005.