From the second half of the 19th century until 1982, the mill known as the Braunsteinmühle which is in Arlesberg on the western edge of Geraberg was active in processing manganese ore. Since the 1990s, restoration work has been carried out on the water turbine, the ore grinding machinery and a historic rock crushing machine, so that today what awaits the visitor is a unique piece of industrial archaeology.

At the mill, there is an exhibition providing detailed information on the manganese ore mining around Arlesberg, the hamlet at the heart of one of the three most important manganese mining districts in Europe.

In the outdoor area there is a lapidarium (from the Latin lapis = stone), which was created by the "Geraberger Heimatfreunde" in 2011. This is an assembly of worked stones. Currently, mining, boundary and road edging stones are arranged in an inner and an outer stone circle. The placing of the stones in the public area has secured them as cultural assets, for they had either been excavated, torn out or broken off from original whereabouts on the site that were no longer possible to pinpoint.

The Thüringen Manganerzbergbau Working Group (Arbeitsgruppe) and the Geraberg local history society (Geraberger Heimatverein), are continuing systematic work in and on the museum and outside area.

Since September 2007, visitors have been able to follow a dedicated trail, the "Braunsteinweg", with its historical mining locations, often provided with interesting detailed information.

In its pleasant atmosphere the "Mühlencafé" enables visitors to share their impressions over coffee and cake or a snack.