Kandiyohi County Historical Society

Willmar, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 1 to 4 p.m. weekends and holidays, $3 adults, ages 12 and under and KCHS members admitted for free, located at the train engine on North Business Highway 71 across from Robbins Island; the KCHS museum has a number of featured exhibits; 320-235-1881.

Photography exhibit: through Dec. 31, the Little Crow Photography Club will have an exhibit of photos to celebrate Sibley State Park’s 100th birthday. Photos need to be from the park or a nature photography taken in Kandiyohi County.

Here are some of the museum exhibits.

World War I: Exhibit focusing on Kandiyohi County.

Favorite Things, the Collection Inventory: Rotating display each month as the collection specialists highlight their favorite things they inventoried.

Beautiful buildings: Photographs, history and a few leftover “pieces” tell the stories of several buildings that were razed in Willmar and missed by residents who remember them.

Church in Kandiyohi County: Artifacts and photos pertaining to the rich history of the Church in Kandiyohi County.

Civil War Veterans of Kandiyohi County: Display of information on more than 200 Civil War veterans that lived in Kandiyohi County. New photos, information or artifacts on the soldiers is always welcome. A book of biographical and military information on the veterans is available for sale.

Civil, Spanish-America and the World Wars: Military items, photos of local veterans, and lists of local GAR veterans.

Funerals & Funeral Homes: Display showing the history of funeral homes in Kandiyohi County and highlights the different traditions associated with funerals over time.

Halvorson inventions: A generator and carburetor invented by Lars Halvorson of Willmar, who also built the first gas-powered “horseless carriage” in the area, are displayed with the museum’s early automobiles.

Hanscom Crazy Quilt: A crazy quilt made by Amy and Marion Hanscom.

Kandi Resorts: As Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” and Kandiyohi County is “Where the Lakes Begin,” KCHS is honoring the lake-based economy in an exhibit dedicated to early resorts and the lakes. The exhibit features bathing suits, fishing gear, resort pictures and brochures.

Native Americans: Display highlighting the different Native American artifacts in the KCHS collection.

The New Deal in Kandiyohi County: A display highlighting the New Deal and its effects on Kandiyohi County which focuses on WPA projects, such as, Willmar War Memorial Auditorium and Sibley State Park.

Railroad: tells the story how a train works, the story of steam, passenger and freight cars, the caboose and the use of the depot and includes a model railroad.

Something’s Afoot: Photographs, shoe store fixtures and shoes from the 1870s to the 1970s.

Surviving through Time: The story of pioneer Guri Endreson’s struggles with life and happenings during the U.S. Dakota Conflict of 1862. It also features the story of the Endreson Cabin on Solomon Lake.

U.S.-Dakota War of 1862: A display telling the very important story of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 in Kandiyohi County.

West Central Baseball Hall of Fame: Features artifacts and information about the inductees in the West Central Baseball Hall of Fame.

Willmar 8: Letters, newspapers, photos and scrapbooks tell the history of the Willmar 8 strike.

Atwater Area Historical Society

Atwater, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment, call Carol at 320-266-7626, Jon at 320-444-0337, Sue at 320-220-0970 or Jo at 320-295-1354, Atwater Area Historical Society and Museum, 500 Pleasant Ave. W.

Dassel History Center

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. For more information call 320-275-3077 or email dahs@dassel.com .

Fagen Fighters WWII Museum

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; free admission, suggested donation of $10 for adults.

GAR and Meeker County Museum

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.

Civil War roundtable: 1:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month, educational meeting with a different speaker each month, held in the 1885 original GAR Hall.

Grove City Historical Museum

Grove City, open by appointment, call Dorothy 320-693-9140, Ron 320-693-2922, or Gordon 320-857-2636.

Lac qui Parle County Museum

Madison, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday; South Highway 75; freewill donation, 320-598-7678.

Maynard History Museum

Maynard, open by appointment, call the Maynard city office at 320-367-2140.

Norway Lake Log Church

New London, Dec. 1, 2 p.m., Norway Lake Lutheran Historical Association Advent Service, an old-time service with message, traditional carols in English and Norwegian, Scandinavian treats; the church, located at the intersection of County Road 40 and 99th Street Northwest near Norway Lake, is not heated; dress warmly and bring a blanket for added comfort.

Pope County Museum

Glenwood, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 809 South Lakeshore Drive.

Raptor Ridge

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.

Renville County Historical Society

Morton, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment; adults $5, ages 6-17 $3, children 5 and under free. For more information or to register call 507-697-6147, or email info@renvillecountyhistory.com.

Pancake breakfast: Nov. 24, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., Morton Senior Center. RCHS fundraiser. Adults $8, ages 3-12 $5, 2 and under eat free.

2019 Featured town: Fairfax is the featured town on exhibit through February, 2020.

High School sports: Exhibit is open through July 15 and is still accepting loans and donations. Especially need yearbooks from Olivia and St. Mary’s School and sports items from all the 212 Conference schools. Marching band and cheerleading are included in this exhibit.

2020 Featured town: Danube is the featured town for 2020 and the museum is now accepting donations and loans. The exhibit will open April 1, 2020.

Renville City Museum

Renville, open by appointment, Main Street; 320-329-8210.

Sacred Heart Area Museum

Sacred Heart, 1:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, or by appointment, U.S. Highway 212 in Sacred Heart; 320-765-8868; email shahs@hcinet.net .

Stevens County Historical Museum

Morris, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, or by appointment, 116 6th St. W.; free admission; 320-589-1719.

Cabinets of Curiosity: through Dec. 14, based on cabinets from the Renaissance by wealthy collectors, our cabinets borrow and combine several ideas, everyone will find something to satisfy their curiosity.

Swift County Historical Society

Benson, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, or by appointment, 2135 Minnesota Ave.; 320-843-4467.