The striking mill building was built of red brick in 1902. It was one of the largest urban mills in the state in the early 20th century. And it is still one of the most impressive monuments of industrial architecture. No tourist will avoid posting about the city online without an image of this water mill, and no tourist leaves Orsha without a photo of it. The three-story rectangular building in the Russian Gothic style with elements of the Russian Revival style was built on the site of an old wooden mill, which had stood here for several centuries. Locals still keep the legends and superstitions about this place.

In the 20th century, technology replaced pagan beliefs, and the mill of the city government passed to a local landowner. In 1910, there were 10 workers grinding cereals and flour. Written documents attest to the success of this enterprise. In the 1920s, the water engine was improved by the steam engine. So the mill could operate until food warehouses were placed within its walls in 1960. For some time, the building remained empty. But in 1991, its reconstruction began. One year after its end in 1994, the Mlyn Museum with an extensive ethnographic collection was opened within its walls.

The museum consists of two permanent exhibitions and a separate hall for temporary exhibitions and various masterclasses.

The first exhibition, named "Our Daily Bread," displays peasant tools used for sowing and reaping: items are ranging from the plow to the sickle. You can see the layout and decor of a peasant house, as well as some household items that create a special warm atmosphere in the house.

The second exposition, "Light of Soul and Talent," is located on the second floor of the mill. Its exhibits are related to the culture and artisanal creativity of the Belarusian people of the 19th-20th centuries. There are everyday and festive national women's costumes, towels embroidered with traditional patterns, hand-sewn icons by the contemporary Orsha artist, Valentina Yankovskaya.