The building was the location where John Dwan, a Two Harbors attorney drew up the incorporation papers for the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (now 3M) in 1902.

The new company's vision was to mine and process corundum that the founders believed was plentiful on Lake Superior's north shore.

The company nearly went bankrupt, because the mineral they were mining was useless as an abrasive and the high humidity at Lake Superior wreaked havoc with their adhesive process.

Nevertheless, the company survived by receiving financial support from Lucius Pond Ordway, moving to Saint Paul, and changing its focus to manufacturing of abrasives with imported materials.

The museum also includes a recreated attorney's office from the early 1900s, a history of the company with photos, artifacts, and documents, and a laboratory exhibit.