The exhibition includes an extensive array of various handicrafts from hand-woven carpets and linen tablecloths to wood-carved beer tankards and other items illustrating the Estonian farmers' traditional lifestyle, fests and holidays.

Although the Liphart family moved away from Raadi in 1860, most of their collections remained there until 1920s, despite some of the most valuable items having been sold in the meantime.

Raadi Manor, the main building of the museum, was destroyed in the Tartu Offensive during World War II.

In any case, from 1940 until 1991, during the period of Nazi German and Soviet occupations most of the museums's cultural artifacts were hidden from the authorities.

The museum's artefacts were secretly stored in churches and spare spaces of people's homes and offices in and around Tartu.