Its main purpose is to celebrate and preserve the history of the timber industry in the South Waikato District with which it has had a connection dating back to the 1900s.
Because of Putāruru's long association with the timber industry, Sneddon felt the town would be the ideal place to set up a museum.
A public meeting was held on 4 May 1972 to gauge interest and the Timber Museum Society was subsequently formed.
In 2007, the Timber Museum of New Zealand Trust took over the running of the site from the Society and in July 2007 presented a three-stage development plan to the South Waikato District Council.
Members of the International Order attended the opening of a Hoo-Hoo club room at the Museum in April 2019.