The main exhibition pieces are significant exhibits from the pre- and protohistory which were found in the Roman archaeological excavation Wareswald and around the Schaumberg mountain. At the same time the progression and history of the abbey of Tholey and the Schaumberg office are documented. The Benedictine abbey is the oldest monastery in Germany and can be traced back to the 8th century.

Geological features such as fossils, iron ores and locally semi-precious stones complete the exhibition. The type of rock of the Schaumberg region is “Tholeiit” (tholeiitic basalt) which is named after its place of discovery in Tholey. It is the most common rock worldwide and has even been found by space probes on various celestial bodies. With the help of exhibits and visual aids, the formation and development of this rock are explained in the museum.

Further exhibitions impress visitors in the restored cellar vaults of the historical museum, including the jail of the canton,  the Olga Schwind Exhibition with historical musical instruments, the square piano workshop of Peter Mönch and the photogrammetry exhibition by Albrecht Meydenbauer who also was a citizen of Tholey.