the building was formerly a farm house constructed in about 1900–1910 and ceded to the national museum of kenya in 1965 by the owner, the late mrs. selfe. the building is rectangular in plan with a veranda along the south façade. it is entered through a 4.8 m wide straight stairway of 5 steps onto a veranda, and then into the main gallery through a protruding porch that forms part of the central space of the building. inside, this building is divided into three chambers/galleries, the central being the largest. at the back, the building is abutted by two chambers which are used as the curator's and education offices respectively.