For ten years the founder and the museum director, architectural historian Stuart Bolger, guided a corps of carpenters and masons in turning the long-neglected land to new uses in the form of a recreated village.

During the first decade of development, some three dozen buildings of the style, type, and function found in the rural communities of western New York were acquired and placed in the configuration of an early Genesee Country hamlet.

The results of their quest are fully furnished houses, shops and farms supported by a large collection of antiques and historical pieces.

The most recent addition to the museum's grounds is Silver Baseball Park, built for games of vintage base ball.

The park's name commemorates both Morrie Silver, the former owner, president, and general manager of the Rochester Red Wings; and the museum's twenty-fifth anniversary.

[3] Annual tournaments have been held at the Baseball Park since 2003, covering a three-day weekend in August and drawing teams from across the United States.

Most of what is grown in the gardens is used regularly by village interpreters for preparing meals in the historic kitchens, dyeing fibers and making decorations or craft projects.

During the spring and summer months, both adults and children can learn more through various educational programs, tours and demonstrations that are specific to gardening.

Included are featured works by artists such as John James Audubon, Robert Bateman, Frederic Remington, Carl Rungius, Maud Earl, Bob Kuhn, Allan Houser and Bruno Liljefors.