The idea to build a mining museum or outdoor museum in the premises of the Mayrau mine surfaced for the first time in the 70’s of 20th century. The actual form was given to it as late as on September 3, 1993 (still during the mine’s operation), when the board of directors of the joint-stock company Českomoravské doly decided upon the conception of the outdoor museum. At that time also a museum council was designated, with a view to gradually accumulate exhibits and build the outdoor exposition. 
Already in 1994, the public gained access to the engine plant with the unique Ringhoffer mining machine. Subsequently, the culture room of the mine was reconstructed into a hall for video-projection and study of archive materials. The nucleus of the outdoor museum was opened for the public at a ceremony on August 19, 1994, celebrating the 120th anniversary of the Mayrau mine. 
In 1994 the Mayrau mine, together with the exhibits of the outdoor museum, was proclaimed as a technical monument of the Czech Republic by the Ministry of Culture. In 1996 an underground exhibition of simulated mining operation was started in the shafts under the hill Homole. In 1997, in connection with the termination of mining, further expositions were completed and the premises of the museum were, roughly speaking, given its present form. Subsequent years saw the builders concentrate on completion of underground spaces, smoke-box and other expositions.
The last turning point for the outdoor museum came in May of 2001, when it became part of the OKD Mining Museum. This helped solve the limited influx of funds for the maintenance of the premises, following the termination of mining. New exhibits and whole expositions were added. November 27, 2003, became a significant day for the museum, as the newly reconstructed historic mining machine Ringhoffer was inaugurated into operation. This event, followed by the media, contributed substantially to growing interest of the public in the outdoor museum.