The project had its beginnings in 1878 when Baron Alexander von Stieglitz (1814–84), a millionaire philanthropist, donated funds to build a museum for the benefit of students of the Central School of Engineering Design, which had been established by him earlier.
The project originated in 1878 when Baron Alexander von Stieglitz (1814–84), a wealthy philanthropist, contributed funds to construct a museum for the students of the Central School of Engineering Design, which he had founded previously.