Museums and historic sites published June 22, 2022
Jun. 23—Willmar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, closed holidays, $3 for adults, ages 12 and under and Kandiyohi County Historical Society members admitted for free, 320-235-1881, located at the train engine on North Business Highway 71 across from Robbins Island. The museum has a number of featured exhibits. Along with the museum there is a one-room school, a log shed and a Great Northern locomotive. Maps of county historical sites are available at the museum.
www.kandiyohicountyhistory.com
Sperry House: The Sperry House will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 3. Cost is $3 per person, members are free. Open by appointment during the week.
Guri Endreson site: The Guri Endreson site, located off County Road 5, the field road gate is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Guided tours available by appointment.
Words on paper: June 30, 6:30 p.m., focusing on the 1950s and 1960s, Willmar author Forrest Peterson will offer a review of major historical events and a listing of books in that era that reflected and influenced society. It will conclude with tips about writing memoirs and the current publishing world.
Atwater, 10 a.m to noon, Saturdays or by appointment, call Jon at 320-444-0337, Atwater Area Historical Society and Museum, 500 Pleasant Ave. W.
The Chippewa County Historical Society will have several sites open for the summer. Admission prices vary. For more information or to make appointments call 320-269-7636, email chippewahistory@outlook.com or website
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Chippewa City: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 1 to 5 p.m. weekends and holidays through Labor Day; junction of state Highway 7 and U.S. Highway 59 in Montevideo; re-creation of a turn-of-the-century town with 23 buildings and two very old dugout canoes. The Chippewa River Dugout Canoe, carbon dated to between 1436 and 1522, is in the Gateway Building and the Minnesota River dugout canoe, carbon dated to between 1626 and 1679, is in the Gippe Cabin. Admission adults $5, ages 6-17 $2, and 5 and under will be admitted free.
Lac qui Parle Mission: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Sept. 4. Visitors can ring the church bell, echoing the sound of the original, traditionally known as the first church bell in Minnesota; six miles north of Montevideo on U.S. Highway 59 and 2.2 miles west on County Road 13; free admission. The Lac qui Parle Mission is a Minnesota Historical Society historic site operated by the Chippewa County Historical Society. Mission Sunday will be July 10.
Mission Sunday: Annual event Sunday, July 10, at the Lac qui Parle Mission beginning with 10:30 a.m. worship, noon potluck, and 1 p.m. program. Free, open to the public.
Olof Swensson Farm Museum: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Sept. 3-4, or by appointment; six miles east of Montevideo on state Highway 7, then five miles south on County Road 6 to the junction with County Road 15. The 17-acre farmstead features a 22-room house, timber frame barn and the remains of a gristmill. Admission adults $5, ages 6-17 $2, 5 and under will be admitted free.
The Danube Historical Society Museum is open from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays in the former Danube Depot Building or by appointment, call 320-826-2236.
Dassel, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dassel History Center, 901 First St. N., free will donation, 320-275-3077,
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Granite Falls, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Lenzen-Roe Memorial Airport, 3 miles south of Granite Falls on Highway 23; adults $10, ages 10-17 $5, family $20, active military $5, ages 9 and under admitted free, annual memberships available. Home to a pristine collection of fully operational, active aircraft and vehicles from World War II along with fine art, bronze sculptures, interactive multimedia displays, and a library. It is designed as a self-guided experience.
Litchfield, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, $3 admission, ages 11 and under free; Grand Army of the Republic Hall and Meeker County Historical Society Museum, 308 Marshall Ave., 320-693-8911,
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Grove City, open by appointment, call Dorothy 320-244-1044, Ron 320-693-2922, or Gordon 320-857-2636.
Madison, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; South Highway 75; freewill donation.
Maynard, open by appointment, call the Maynard city office at 320-367-2140.
New London, 7:15 p.m. Saturdays, July 9 through Aug. 13, vespers service followed by social hour, west of New London off County Road 40 on 99th St. N.W. or by appointment, call 320-905-1539. The summer festival program will be at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 21.
Paynesville, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, through Sept. 3, 251 Ampe Drive; freewill donation.
New London, open by appointment, call 320-354-8820, 12050 Co. Rd. 40 N.E. Larry and Barb Levin's natural history museum is located on County Road 40, 2.8 miles east of state Highway 23 on the north side of the road. Admission is free.
Morton, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, research library by appointment only; adults $5, ages 6-12 $3, children 5 and under free. For more information or for a library appointment call 507-697-6147, or email
info@renvillecountyhistory.com
, website
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Renville, open by appointment, Main Street; 320-329-8210.
Sacred Heart, 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays and by appointment, U.S. Highway 212 in Sacred Heart; free admission, donations appreciated, call 320-765-2274, email
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Willmar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, run mid-may through October, or by appointment, 3310 Business Highway 71 S.; features roadway and farm field history, more than 300 tractors, cars, trucks and fire trucks; gift shop; adults $6, under 12 are $3, 5 and under admitted free; 320-235-4341.
Benson, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or by appointment, 2135 Minnesota Ave.; free admission; 320-843-4467.
Morris, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Saturday by appointment, 116 6th St. W.; free admission; 320-589-1719. Walking tours have been developed for Alberta, Chokio, Donnelly, Hancock and several parts of Morris. They take about an hour to walk the full path; please stay on the sidewalk and do not enter private property. Check the website to see where brochures/maps are available for each tour.
Granite Falls, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, through Sept. 3, junction of Minnesota highways 23 and 67 on the Minnesota River. For more information call 320-564-4479.
