It is located in a former school designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh between 1903 and 1906.
Mackintosh based the design of the school on Rowallan Castle in Ayrshire and Falkland Palace.
[1][full citation needed] The building features a pair of windowed Scottish baronial style tower staircases and a tiled Drill Hall.
However, by the 1970s the area was experiencing urban decay, and the school's enrolment fell to under 100.
Activities and exhibits at the museum include an opportunity to participate in a Victorian classroom situation, with employed actors playing teachers who impose strict discipline.