The museum houses the personal collection of the writer Carlos Monsivais, encompassing paintings, photography, toys, albums, calendars, advertising and books.

[1] For more than 30 years, Carlos Monsivais was dedicated to collecting about 20,000 objects, which have been grouped into photography, miniature models; drawings and cartoons; engravings and everyday life.

The name was coined by Carlos Monsivais himself, since his collection includes various, diverse objects,[2] like a small sundries shop, or estanquillo.

[3] The museum opened on November 23, 2006, with the exhibition, En orden de aparición about the identity of the capital from Colonial times to the present day.

Throughout the twentieth century the building had several twists, from jewelry shop to government office, then to a bank; and even hosted the nightclub La Opulencia.