The structure housing the Shoe Museum in Marikina was built in the 1860s during the
Spanish colonial era in the Philippines and was used as an arsenal by the Spaniards. During the
Philippine–American War, the building was used as a detention center. It was then used as a motor pool of the
American era. After
World War II, the structure was repurposed as a rice mill by the Tuason family. Former
First Lady Imelda Marcos's shoe collection had been on display at the Malacañang Palace Museum (now the
Presidential Museum and Library) for six years during
Corazon Aquino's presidential term before it was placed in storage at the beginning of
Fidel V. Ramos's presidency. A portion of Marcos' shoe collection seized by the
Presidential Commission on Good Government was requested to be transferred to the Marikina city government led by Mayor
Bayani Fernando in 1996. Marcos did not object to the request in 1998. In the same year, Fernando conceived the idea to open a museum dedicated to Marikina's shoe industry. The Footwear Museum of Marikina was opened as Marikina Footwear Museum on February 16, 2001, after renovation work in the late 1990s was finished. Imelda Marcos herself led the museum's opening. ==Collection==