The exhibits on display are extraordinary testimonies to Hausach's carnival history, which stretches far back into the Middle Ages. The idea of a museum was born in the mid-1990s. An archive was needed where the guild could collect and display its historical treasures. The proceeds from the 1998 Fools' Meeting provided the foundation: the Fools' Guild bought the "Lehmann-Beck" house in Schlossstraße, which later housed the "Uhren-Lehmann".
The guild archive finally opened its doors in 2006. In addition to the basic exhibition, including original documents, the "Narrenblättle" from 1901, historical photographs and the Hansele and Spättle costumes, the old masks immediately catch the eye.
Based on Paul Rist's notes from 1949, which are on display, the first Fools' Codex, written by José F.A. Oliver in collaboration with Klaus Keller, was published for the 1998 Fools' Meeting. The expanded codex was published in time for the 2014 Fools' Meeting. Visitors can read the books in the guild archive. But that's not all. You can currently browse through the Leib chronicles from 1949 to 1988 in the special exhibition "Mit Leib un Seel e Narr". The exhibition on the work of the long-standing secretary of the Hausach guild, Helmut Leib (1915-2013), is on display until the end of the year. Photographs, Leib's texts and original artefacts from his "Narrenstüble" are on display.
Particularly worth seeing: a Hansele mask from the 19th century. There is one document that really makes you go into raptures: the account book of the town of Hausach from 1838/39, which states that only "unmarried boys were allowed to wear masks". According to the book, 47 people wore masks on 2 March 1839 and 68 the following day. There is a precise list of who wore a mask almost 180 years ago and what rates were paid for it. Six kreuzer a day was not a cheap affair reserved for the sons of the bourgeoisie. At that time, all of the proceeds went towards caring for the poor. It reads: "Which are sent to the poor keeper Streit for collection. Hausach, 6th March 1840, Mayor Waidele".
In addition to the basic exhibition, further special exhibitions are planned. "Among other things, one of the 12 VSAN guilds from the Black Forest region is to present itself.
