The museum was founded in 1974 by Georg Höltl with the restoration of the 500-year-old Rothau Mill (Rothaumühle). This building which, following the collapse of its roof timbers in 1972, had been sold by Georg and Centa Höltl, still stands on its original site below the Dreiburgensee. Since then, numerous buildings from across the Bavarian Forest have been transported to the museum. Among the types of building on show are farmhouses, day labourers' houses, chapels, the oldest village school in Germany, workshops and mills. The comprehensive local history collection includes holy articles, farm furniture and household effects, clothing, agricultural tools, jewellery, glass products and carts. Several times a year, a large farmer's market takes place in the museum village, where there are many stalls and demonstrations of old customs and handicrafts.