Stearns History Museum

Exhibits:- long term exhibits: -on solid ground: newly renovated exhibit that tells the story of the granite industry and its impact on the growth of central Minnesota. - 33rd and cooper: 50 acres of opportunity. Explore the History of the industrial hub in st cloud from the pan motor company through electrolux. Discover the rich History of manufacturing in the region. -flowing through time: Stearns County in 1855 was a pristine wilderness with multiple ecosystems. As settlers came resources were needed to sustain the growing population. Today citizens are making difficult choices to ensure the sustainability of those resources and they continue to provide a clean environment for citizens of the future. - rising to the crisis: Stearns County responds to world war ii. Discover the many ways Stearns County citizens responded to world war ii both at home and abroad. - Minnesota's secret language school explores the History of the military intelligence service language schools known as america's secret weapon against japan during ww ii. - why treaties matter: self-government in the dakota and ojibwe nations.

Archival and research services: research, publication, and archival services are provided in conjunction with public programming that encourages an understanding of and appreciation for local and state History. Over 48,000 biographical/subject files, maps, photographic images, archives/manuscript collections, library books, and oral histories are listed on the Museum's library catalog, which is accessed on its website.

Musuem operations: the Museum worked with the local Stearns County Historical organizations to provide grants and expertise in collections care, exhibit design, archival care, and management. Those museums are cold spring area Historical Society, kimball area Historical Society, melrose area Historical Society, paynesville area Historical Society, haehn Museum, sauk centre area Historical Society, sinclair lewis foundation, and st. joseph area Historical Society.- the Museum continues to be a polling site for national and local elections. - 24 volunteers contributed 1748 hours to the Museum in 2022.

Educational services. The Stearns History Museum conducts public programming that interprets the History of Stearns County and Minnesota. Schools, families, and individuals use the Museum to better understand and appreciate local & state History and their place in it. School tours and summer programming: - shm provides tours and program for k-university students. Programs include archeology, environmental studies, and subsistence farming. Family programming: - harvest festival a celebration of fall in central Minnesota with games and activities for family members of all ages. - at war and at home: a world war ii living History experience. A weekend full of activities for kids of all ages to discover the History of world war ii and its impact on minnesotans through presentations, demonstrations, activities and interacting with reenactors.adult programming:- breakfast club - monthly speaker series, averaging 80 attendees per month, that brings both contemporary and historic issues that have or are facing Stearns County and Minnesota residents. Topics such as refugess, historic preservation, and farming are discussed.- century farm program - Stearns County has the largest recognized century farms in Minnesota. The program began in 1975. There are over 495 century farms that have been recognized by the Stearns History Museum in Stearns County.- memory writers - a group of writers share and critique stories they have written about their family History. Memory writers meets twice a month.- quilters group - area quilters gather september - may at the Museum to work on quilt restoration projects. - hops & History - a celebration of brewing in Stearns County. Bi-monthly program focused on a different Historical topic with the incentive of a cold beverage. Shm partners with the local brewers to provide a social and Historical experience for adults 21+.