The museum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021! Over the course of history, the buildings have been gradually built up since the 1960s. However, the museum development plan has changed over the years. While the initial goal was to save the buildings - dismantling them on site and storing them in the grounds - today careful consideration is given to which type of building fits into the museum concept and then a targeted search is made for the missing buildings.

The techniques and materials used to rebuild the buildings have also changed. For the wood restorers in the carpentry and joinery trades, there were not only success stories during the museum’s history, but also dead ends. In the early construction phase of the museum, the restorers used modern aerated concrete blocks (Ytong) for the infills of the compartments, as this aerated concrete block was easy to work with. Modern lime sandstones and lattice bricks (high-hole bricks) were also used for the masonry of the compartments. Today, only historically authentic materials (brick and lime mortar or clay bricks) are used for the infills - if not even the original is completely preserved, as in the case of whole part translocation.

Today, principles of constructive wood protection are applied to all woodworking. The restorers in carpentry also pay attention to using chemical-free and purely structural measures during the restoration of windows and doors, which should protect the wood from moisture or lead to faster drying. This includes special profile shapes or the introduction of bevels, incoming water can drain better to the outside through sloping joints. Against rising moisture, tar paper or sealing sludge was introduced between the threshold and the brick base. Today, it is more common to introduce this barrier below the first two base layers.

During the construction or restoration of half-timbered woods, damaged areas often have to be replaced. In doing so, the restorers proceed as gently as possible with the substance. Smaller cracks or gaps are filled with linseed oil-bound wood crack paste with fillers such as wood chips. Larger damages are repaired with corresponding fitting pieces of wood. In the course of a beam, the restorers cut out the pieces in a trapezoidal shape so that they do not fall out.

Since the 1970s, silicone joints between infills and construction timbers have often been used in half-timbered buildings. The use promised to prevent water from penetrating. However, over time it turned out that despite the silicone joint, water got into the space in between, but could not drain again - this is how serious moisture damage occurred in the first place. The material did not keep what it had promised. Today, the infills are plastered flush with the wood again.