Museums and historic sites published Sept. 21, 2022
Sep. 21—Willmar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 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.
http://www.kandiyohicountyhistory.com/
Genealogical Resource Library: Sept. 21, 1 to 3 p.m., open house reception for the new home of the Heritage Searchers of Kandiyohi County.
Tea at the Sperry House: Sept. 23, 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., annual Tea at the Sperry House, $20 per person, (adults only), with proceeds to benefit Sperry House. Only 16 people will be served for each of the two teas, so reservations will fill quickly. Stop at the KCHS museum to register or call 320-235-1881.
Annual meeting: Oct. 20, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., chicken wild rice hotdish supper followed by the 126th annual meeting. Marlin Henjum will speak about how he researched his family and wrote the book "Wheat King, Sognefjord to Norway Lake," a story of Norwegian immigration to America. Purchase dinner tickets by Oct. 14 by calling 320-235-1881, emailing
director@kandiyohicountyhistory.com
or on the website.
Dinner at Sperry House: Win an elegant dinner for two at the Sperry House on Oct. 28, catered by McKales Catering of New London. Tickets available from the Kandiyohi County Historical Society for a donation of $5 per ticket, with the proceeds used for restoring the Victorian Sperry House. Tickets will be available through Oct. 20.
West Central Area Baseball Hall of Fame: Nominations for the 2023 class are now open. Nominees must fall within a 45-mile radius of Willmar be in one of the following categories:
Professional: Player or manager who resided in West Central Minnesota and went on to success in high levels of professional baseball as a player, coach, or manager.
Amateur: An amateur player, coach, or manager who was successful as a player in youth, high school, and/or adult amateur baseball.
Community involvement: A longtime resident of West Central Minnesota who has achieved great success as a supporter of baseball and has made significant contributions to baseball. The nomination form is on the website or by calling 320-235-1881, Deadline is Oct. 28.
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 main site, Historic Chippewa City, is open through September. For more information or to make appointments call 320-269-7636, email chippewahistory@outlook.com or visit the web site
.
Chippewa City: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; 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.
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, dassel.com/hs.
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, meekercomuseum.org.
Civil War Spy Mystery: October, solve the puzzles and crack the code in this interactive, hands-on history mystery. For all ages.
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, 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 Friday, 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
.
Patricia Lubeck: Oct. 27, 6 p.m., Lubeck has published several books about events in southwest Minnesota, including "Murder & Madness in Renville County." Freewill donation to the Renville County Food Shelf.
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
.
Willmar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday 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.
Echo, Rock Valle Church, Sept. 24, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association presents a mini-symposium. Dave Craigmile will present a slide show and discussion regarding the numerous fateful and historic events of 1862 in America. It will be followed by a noon meal for a freewill donation. At 1 p.m. the group will tour both the Wood Lake Battlefield Monument site and the Wood Lake Battlefield site. RSVP by Sept. 21 to be counted for lunch, call 507-697-6147.
Granite Falls, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, through Oct. 29, junction of Minnesota highways 23 and 67 on the Minnesota River. For more information call 320-564-4479.
