The Allen-Steinheim Museum was built between 1876 and 1890 by Alfred University's second president, Jonathan Allen. A natural history museum, the Gothic ediface was built from approximately 8,000 different specimens of rock collected in the Alfred area and 700 varieties of wood. It originally housed the collections of Jonathan and Abigail Allen. Dedicated on October 6, 1997, the Robert R. McComsey Career Development Center at the museum reflected Alfred University's commitment to provide students with superior career services after Robert R. McComsey, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in ceramic engineering from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University in 1966, gave a gift to renovate the museum.