The state government had leased this building to Sri Ramakrishna Mission. It is located on the Marina along the South Beach Road. Constructed in 1842 to store ice blocks imported from US by the Tudor Ice Company and so it is also called as ice house.

In 1897, When Swami Vivekananda visited Chennai, he stayed in this historic building from February 6 to 15 in 1897 after his acclaimed speech at Chicago for the Parliament of Religions. The Government took over the building in 1930 and in 1963 it was named after Vivekananda. During Centenary Celebrations, in 1999 the building was renovated and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu unveiled Swami Vivekananda's statue.

Photographs depicting the historical happenings associated is Swami Vivekananda's life and books about him (also books written by Swamiji) are on display and available for sale here in the Museum.