The Manila Elks Club was founded after the
Spanish–American War ended in 1898, which resulted in the transfer of the
Spanish Philippines to the
United States control. In 1901, a group of Americans residing in Manila petitioned the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks national organization to allow the founding of an Elks Club in the Philippines, receiving authorization in 1905. After the inauguration of the
Commonwealth of the Philippines, ending the U.S. territorial
Insular Government of the Philippine Islands, this clubhouse was used by the United States
High Commissioner to the Philippines and his staff from 1935 to 1940. The Elks Club building was left in ruins and was eventually destroyed during the war. In the 1960s, because of issues of foreign ownership of the property, the Elks Lodge #761 moved out of the Manila Elks Club Building to a new facility in the Flag Village area of Makati. The museum was founded by Dr.
Estefania Aldaba-Lim in 1994. ==See also==