Stearns History Museum

St. Cloud Area Genealogists - "Finding Family in the 1950 U.S. Census" with Mary Wickersham
2022-09-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Save the date for SCAG’s September meetup “Finding Family in the 1950 U.S. Census” with presenter Mary Wickersham. Tuesday, September 20 @ 7pm.
Many genealogists know that images of the 1950 U.S. Census of Population and Housing were made available online on April 1, 2022. Since then, volunteers from around the country have been indexing the records. While this is a wonderful resource, many researchers still struggle to find their relatives in the images.
Genealogist Mary Wickersham will present “Finding Family in the 1950 Census” for the St. Cloud Area Genealogists on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Stearns History Museum. The presentation will be offered synchronously online. Wickersham will show participants how to use the National Archives and Records Administration’s artificial intelligence-based index, other online indexes as well as offer tips for finding family you can’t find in the indexes.
Mary Wickersham has been a researcher for more than 25 years and is an avid genealogy volunteer. She is a longtime member of and volunteer for the Minnesota Genealogical Society and the Irish Genealogical Society International and has served on the boards of both organizations. She is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

Harvest Festival
2022-09-24 10:00 - 13:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Save the date for Stearns History Museum’s Harvest Fest! Enjoy a fun afternoon on the Museum Plaza featuring vintage-style carnival games, Victory Garden tours, Cake Walk, and more! Plus, send us your best hotdish recipes as soon as possible to add to our digital cookbook!
Adults – $10, Children – $5, Members are free.
Click here for the event information page. Click here to register online.
Call the Museum with questions – 320.253.8424

Hops & History: A Celebration of Brewing
2022-10-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Let’s celebrate all the amazing breweries in Stearns County! Join us October 1, 1pm – 4pm in the Museum’s Plaza for the Second Annual Hops & History Celebration of Brewing! Enjoy standout beverages from a local cidery and local craft breweries. One ticket gets you a “never ending” 6oz glass that you can refill as many times as you’d like so you can try them all!
Be one of the first 75 people to walk through the door & you will get a free Bavarian pretzel from Backwards Bread Company!
You can get your tickets online by clicking here or calling the Museum at 320.253.8424.

Note: This is a 21+ event. $25 per person.
Questions? Call the Museum at 320.253.8424.
Please note: the Museum & galleries will close at 1pm October 1st and we will only be open for the ticketed event. Thanks!

Civil War Roundtable: Grant vs. Lee – Who was really the greater general?
2022-10-11 15:00 - 17:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us for Civil War Roundtable on Tuesday, October 11th @ 3:30 p.m. This program is free and open to the public!
Many of us grew up hearing Robert E. Lee described as one of the greatest American generals of all time (if not thegreatest) while Ulysses S. Grant was sometimes described as a drunk and a butcher. In more recent years, Grant’s reputation has risen while Lee’s has taken some hits. In this presentation, we’ll discuss how historians have described both generals through the years as well as give audience members a chance to share their insights and opinions in an interactive presentation.
Stearns County History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud.
3:00pm – doors open and opportunity to socialize and interact with fellow members
3:15pm – meeting begins with the opportunity to hear about and share civil war book and travel recommendations and play some Civil War trivia
3:45pm – featured presentation on Grand and Lee
4:45pm – adjourn
Follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CMCWRT
Free and open to the public
For more information – contact Andy Ditlevson – aditlevson@gmail.com, 320-241-8477

St. Cloud Area Genealogists - "Discovering Your Polish Roots" with Jerome Biedny
2022-10-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Have you wondered how to find out more about your Polish ancestry but don’t know where to start? Genealogist Jerome (Jay) Biedny will present “Polish Genealogy: Sources in America and Europe” for the St. Cloud Area Genealogists on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Stearns History Museum (235 33rd Ave S., St. Cloud). The presentation will be offered synchronously online. Biedny will present major record types to explore when doing research on a Polish American relative as well as sharing tips for finding your relative’s ancestral village and their immigration and naturalization records.
Free for members, $7 for non-members
If you’re interested in becoming a SCAG member, please contact: Brendon Duffy at 320-237-3023 or duffyroots@gmail.com
Jerome (Jay) Biedny has been active in the Polish Genealogy Societies of Minnesota, New York and America for more than 30 years. Biedny is a past president of Polish Genealogy Society of Minnesota and has presented on Polish genealogy, history and immigration at many regional events. Biedny specializes in records from the German and Austrian Partitions and on the ocean liners that brought many families (including his) to America. He authored a genealogical column for many years in a Polish language newspaper in Minnesota and is currently working on a book that will capture his decades of research.

Celebrate the Courthouse Centennial
2022-11-15 16:30 - 19:00 | Stearns County Courthouse, 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, MN, 56303, United States
The Stearns County courthouse is 100 years old, and Stearns County is holding a public event to celebrate!
It was an amazing feat to build such a magnificent and elaborate structure back in 1922. Today, the courthouse stands just as stately, grand, and beautiful as it did 100 years ago. We want the public to see for themselves! Let’s celebrate the historic and prominent courthouse. Share your courthouse story, and it can be part of our event on November 15th. Whether it was a wedding, adoption, a memory of being at the courthouse, a big case you recall, or anything else that drew you to the building, we’d love to hear it! Email your memory to info@co.stearns.mn.us .
Tuesday, November 15
4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
725 Courthouse Square, Downtown St. Cloud
There will be a variety of activities for everyone.

Explore the building and see parts of the courthouse you have never seen before.
See where the Mighty Ducks movie was filmed and the features left behind, a bullet mark left by a shooting in the courthouse, the infamous 8-foot-tall clocks that highlight the downtown St. Cloud skyline, and the impact of the downtown explosion in 1998.
Live music
Courthouse Bingo for kids
A scavenger hunt for all ages
Courthouse triviaFind the gavel game
Prizes
Food trucks
Selfie stations, with props
Activity table with coloring pages, puzzles, and word searches
Face painting
Food and beverages
Meet and take photos with our K-9s
The Sheriff’s Office drone
Old Sheriff’s squad car, new squad car and other equipment used by the Sheriff’s Office
Talk with a deputy and see the gadgets they have with them each day
Sheriff giveaways for kids
See all the courtrooms, inside the dome, hear about the biggest cases held in Stearns County, learn about being on a jury, and hear stories from judges, attorneys, staff, and other county officials who have worked for years in the courthouse. See displays with historic photos, interesting newspaper articles, and blueprints of the original courthouse that show a much different use of the building than we see today.
Learn all sorts of fascinating things about the building you likely never knew – about the tunnel system, presidential visits, the makings of its amazing architecture, and of course lots of history!

St. Cloud Area Genealogists - "Adding Leaves and Flowers to the Branches of your Family Tree" with Linda Coffin
2022-11-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join SCAG’s November meetup “Adding Leaves and Flowers to the Branches of your Family Tree” with presenter Linda Coffin. Tuesday, November 15 @ 7pm.
Free for SCAG members, $7 for non-members
A common problem for genealogists is making their research interesting enough that others will want to read about it. Genealogist Linda Coffin will address this challenge in her workshop “Adding Leaves and Flowers to the Branches of Your Family Tree” for the St. Cloud Area Genealogists on Tuesday, November 15, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Stearns History Museum. The presentation will also be offered synchronously online. Coffin will provide ideas for turning your charts and tables into interesting narratives, complete with illustrations and historical context. We will discuss types of background information that can be added to your stories and review examples. You don’t need to be a talented writer to liven up your genealogical stories. You will leave feeling more confident you can do it!

Linda Coffin has 35 years of experience as a self-employed graphic designer. In 2004, she started her own business, HistoryCrafters (www.historycrafters.com), to help her clients preserve memoirs and family histories and publish them as short-run books. To date, she has worked on more than 40 such books, for individuals, families, businesses, and even a golf course! Linda is a member of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Genealogical Societies, the National Genealogical Society, and the Association of Professional Genealogists. She has presented at many local, state, and national genealogy and memoir conferences.

St. Cloud Area Genealogists
Founded in 1973, the St. Cloud Area Genealogists is a non-profit organization that strives to make family history research an enriching and rewarding experience. This premier organization is for everyone from the beginner to the most advanced family historian. Our members research their ancestors from varying locations within Minnesota, throughout the United States, and from foreign countries. To learn more about becoming a SCAG member, please contact Brendon Duffy (duffyroots@gmail.com).
Click here for the Press Release: 2022 Nov Press Release – Linda Coffin

Civil War Roundtable: Human Interest Stories of the Irish in the Civil War with Scott Mingus
2022-11-16 15:30 - 17:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us for Civil War Roundtable featuring Scott Mingus on Wednesday, November 16 @ 3:30 p.m. (note change in date from usual meeting!)
Meeting Overview: Erin Go Bragh. Anglicized from the Gaelic phrase for “Ireland Forever.” In the mid-19th century, the slogan was particularly popular among many Irish immigrants who had moved to the United States for political or personal reasons, yet maintained their strong familial, social, and often nationalistic ties to the old Emerald Isle. Tens of thousands of Irish-born men (and a handful of women) and an even larger number of Irish and Scots-Irish descendants fought in the Civil War, with Sons of Erin serving prominently in both the Union and Confederate armies. Many left compelling personal stories of their martial service, or of Irish comrades. In this PowerPoint presentation, Scott will share more than two dozen stories of prominent and not-so-prominent Irishmen and women from the war years.
Scott Mingus is a retired scientist and executive in the global specialty paper industry. The Ohio native graduated from the Paper Science & Engineering program at Miami University. He was part of the research team that developed the first commercially successful self-adhesive U.S. postage stamps, and he was an early pioneer in the development of bar code labels. He has written more than 30 Civil War and Underground Railroad books and numerous articles for Gettysburg Magazine and other historical journals. He has appeared on C-SPAN, C-SPAN3, PCN, and other TV networks. Mingus writes a blog on the Civil War history of York County, PA, where he lives (www.yorkblog.com/cannonball). He also has written six scenario books for miniature wargaming. A great-great-grandfather was a 15-year-old soldier in the 51st Ohio in the Western Theater, and a great-grandfather was in the 183rd Ohio during the Carolinas Campaign. Other family members fought at Antietam and Gettysburg in the 7th West Virginia of the Army of the Potomac.
Meetings are held at the Stearns County History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud.
Note change in starting time:
3:00pm – doors open and opportunity to socialize and interact with fellow members
3:15pm – welcome and “new features”
3:30pm – speaker presentation
4:45pm – adjourn
For more information – contact Andy Ditlevson – aditlevson@gmail.com, 320-241-8477

Volunteer Luncheon
2022-12-01 11:30 - 13:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
To say thank you to all of our volunteers, we invite you to join us for lunch at the Museum on Thursday, December 1st from 11:30a – 1p.

Mission Moonshine Escape Room
2022-12-01 16:00 - 19:00, 2022-12-08 16:00 - 19:00, 2022-12-15 16:00 - 19:00, 2022-12-22 16:00 - 19:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us this December for the Stearns History Museum’s first-ever Escape Room experience. During the hour, you’ll be transported to the 1920s, a time when everyone wanted the Moonshine Stearns County produced. But the agents are knocking down the door to dry out Stearns County with one goal in mind. Can you stop them?
Thursdays in December – Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 from 4-7. One hour time slot per group, maximum 6 per session. Sign up today!
$20/person (nonmembers), $15 for members
To get tickets, you must register online by clicking here. Questions? Call us at 320.253.8424
Register online

Mission Moonshine Escape Room
2022-12-17 14:00 - 16:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
We’re opening two more time slots for the Mission Moonshine Escape Room! This Saturday, December 17 from 2-3 and 3-4.
Register and get tickets by clicking here.

During the hour, you’ll be transported to the 1920s, a time when everyone wanted the Moonshine Stearns County produced. But the agents are knocking down the door to dry out Stearns County with one goal in mind. Can you stop them?

One hour time slot per group, maximum 6 per session. $20/person (nonmembers), $15 for members
Questions? Call us at 320-253-8424

Lion Man Literacy Exhibit closing
2022-12-31 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
A new comic book exhibit featuring the work of young community members kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, August 25, at Stearns History Museum.
The Lion Man Literacy Project highlights the visions of young Black youth solving real-life problems through the embodiment of superheroes. The summer program, under the guidance of Michael Dando, an English professor at St. Cloud State University, involves students at Too Much Talent, Southside Boys and Girls Club of Central Minnesota and District 742 South Junior High School CRUSH Academy. The students created characters and one- to two-page stories using technology like Procreate and other digital art tools.
The name Lion Man comes from the first Black superhero comic written in 1947 by Black Philadelphia journalist Orrin Cromwell Evans. The story follows an American scientist turned superhero (Lion Man) tasked by the United Nation to watch over a magical mountain full of uranium in Africa to prevent war. The exhibit is expected to run through September in conjunction with Beyond the Black Panther: Visions of Afrofuturism in American Comics, a Michigan State University’s traveling exhibition. The second presentation explores how aesthetics and community shape contemporary Black comics. It also offers stories inspired by African folklore such as Is’nana the Were-Spider and stories from the Black speculative tradition.
Presented by United Way Partner for Student Success 21st Century Community Learning Centers and Stearns History Museum.

St. Cloud Area Genealogists - "A Whole New World of Catholic Records" with Margaret R. Fortier
2023-01-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Save the date for SCAG’s first meetup of 2023!
Have you wondered what new resources are available for those with Catholic ancestors and how to decipher them? Margaret R. Fortier, Certified Genealogist (CG), will present the webinar “A Whole New World of Catholic Records” for the St. Cloud Area Genealogists on Tuesday, January 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. Participants will gather to enjoy the webinar at Stearns History Museum (235 33rd Ave S., St. Cloud) and the webinar will also be offered synchronously online.
Catholic sacramental records can be genealogical gems. They identify important moments, places and cultural information about your ancestors. Fortier will discuss the expanded availability of Catholic records online and how to find them both online and offline. She will cover parish records both for the United States and internationally as well as records for Catholic institutions and newspapers. Come hear what these records contain, what they mean and how you can use them in your family research.
Margaret R. Fortier, CG, a Boston-based genealogist, researches immigrant ancestors, focusing on those with French-Canadian, Italian, and Portuguese roots. She serves on the board of the Association of Professional Genealogists.
Free for members, $7 for non-members (to register email kmsauer@ymail.com) Call or email the Museum or SCAG to register.
St. Cloud Area Genealogists Facebook Page

Historski: A History Ski Tour of Riverside Park
2023-01-22 11:30 | Riverside Park, 1725 Kilian Blvd, St. Cloud, MN, 56304, United States
Love history? Like to ski? Take the central Minnesota park history challenge and try Historski: A History Ski Tour of Riverside Park during the 15th Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet (children’s ski) at Riverside Park on Sunday, January 22, 2023.
Check your knowledge while doing a scavenger hunt along some of Riverside Park’s great ski trails. Stop by the park shelter (1725 Kilian Boulevard Southeast) to get started. This self- guided, free event is open to all ages. Event starts at 11:30 a.m.
Historski: A History Ski Tour of Riverside Park is hosted by the Stearns History Museum with support from the Central MN Youth Ski Club, Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota and St. Cloud (Trollheim) Sons of Norway Lodge. For more information/to register, go to www.rethos.org/classes, contact info@stearns-museum.org or call 320/253-8424.
10th St. Bridge, St. Cloud State University, 1910 Image courtesy SCSU Archives.

Exploring History & Culture in Central Minnesota - Hmong Cultural Center
2023-02-04 11:00 - 12:00, 2023-02-11 11:00 - 12:00, 2023-02-18 11:00 - 12:00, 2023-02-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom / Online
Learn about Hmong history and culture in Minnesota during a free February event series, “Exploring History and Culture in Central Minnesota – Hmong Cultural Center.” Hosted via Zoom each Saturday in February, this is a partnership project of the Benton, Morrison, Sherburne and Stearns county historical societies. The series seeks to create greater understanding and awareness of cultures that have been and still are part of central Minnesota and its history.
This year’s programming comes from the Hmong Cultural Center (HCC) in St. Paul, a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and nourishing Hmong culture and to enhancing cross-cultural awareness. The programs will be presented by HCC’s director of programs, Dr. Mark Pfeifer, and executive director, Txongpao Lee. A traveling exhibit from HCC will be available for public viewing at each site on a revolving basis for two weeks in February.

February 4 – Hmong 101: Weddings & Funerals
February 11 – Hmong 101: Traditional Hmong Beliefs about Health and Medicine
February 18 – Hmong 101: Folk Arts Traditions
February 25 – Hmong 101: Minnesota Milestones

Registration is required. For more information and to register, visit or contact the Stearns History Museum at info@stearns-museum.org or (320)253-8424 or click here to register online.

Hmong Cultural Center Traveling Exhibit on view:

January 31 – February 16 – Morrison County Historical Society (2151 Lindbergh Drive South; Little Falls) and Stearns History Museum (235 33rd Avenue South; St. Cloud)
February 18 – March 1 – Sherburne History Center (10775 27th Avenue Southeast; Becker) and Benton County Historical Society (202 Second Avenue South, Sauk Rapids)

The 2023 event series is sponsored by Sourcewell, Wingnut Tattoo, Mid-Minnesota Federal Credit Union and Bezek Family Dentistry. Support also comes from the Hmong Student Organization at St. Cloud State University.

Sweetheart Swing Dance
2023-02-11 19:00 - 22:00 | The Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr, St. Cloud, MN, 56303, United States
Throw on your dancing shoes and join us for a Sweetheart Swing Dance!
The Rock City Big Band will play all your favorites from the 20s, 30s, and 40s so you and your sweetie or you and your friends can dance the night away. Local beer will be served, along with some tasty sweet treats!
Saturday February 11th at the Whitney Senior Center. $10 per ticket, dance lesson at 6:30 & dance starts at 7.
Call 320-253-8424 or click here for tickets.

Central Minnesota Farm Show
2023-02-28 09:00 - 2023-03-01 15:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Come see us at the Central Minnesota Farm Show from 9-3 February 28 and March 1.
More information about the farm show can be found at www.centralmnfarmshow.com

Our Narratives Artist Workshop
2023-03-04 10:00 - 16:00, 2023-03-05 12:00 - 16:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
See Yourself in The Archives! You ARE part of History!

For Creatives of all disciplines and backgrounds, this workshop is facilitated by top notch artist facilitators, Heidi Jeub and Terrell X, focusing on how you can tell your story, your way. Don’t miss this rich partnership with the Stearns History Museum!

Saturday, March 4, 10am – 4pm
Sunday, March 5, 12pm – 4pm

Make things, talk about things, and write and perform ideas inspired by the archives of the Stearns History Museum.
Bring your own lunch. Snacks and beverages available. Please click here to register online!

In partnership with The Whit Gallery / Heidi Jeub Studio

Our Narratives Open Mic
2023-03-07 18:00 - 21:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Tell Your Story Before Someone Else Tells it For You

Bring your talent to tell your story! Music, Poetry, Prose, Storytelling, Comedy!

Theme: Tell your story about YOUR place in this Place of Stearns County! Are you a newcomer? Were you born and raised? Do you have a story of a special corner of this community?

Please note that we often hear stories and listen to perspectives that can be uncomfortable. We hold space for this type of exchange, respecting other’s experience. All are welcome.

6-7pm Social Hour with food (TBD), sign up for open mic, Gallery will be open
7pm Performances

Please reach out to us or The Whit Gallery with questions!

Heritage Circle Tour - St. Cloud Community Outpost
2023-03-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Heritage Circle members, we’d like to invite you to another special tour in the community! This time, we’ll be visiting the St. Cloud Rotary Community Outpost with the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation.
The visit will consist of a presentation with Q & A and then house tours. Please RSVP by calling the Museum, or emailing info@stearns-museum.org. You can also click here to register online!
The Community OutPost team collaborates with residents, community groups, businesses, and St. Cloud State University, to assess community needs; build and maintain relationships; and improve access to needed health, wellness, and other services. The outpost was built in 2017 and is the first of its kind in the state. South side residents have said that it has brought positive change to their neighborhood.
Photo courtesy MPR News

Our Narratives Artist Retreat
2023-04-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2023-04-16 12:00 - 16:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us for another Our Narratives Artist Retreat at the Stearns History Museum! Saturday and Sunday is jam packed with creating, collaborating, and connecting. All artists are welcome!
Facilitated by Heidi Jeub and TERRELL X (aka Carnage The Executioner), this workshop has allowed dozens of artists find their authentic voice, and creative confidence, to tell their own stories.
The Stearns History Museum provides a historic context, even if you are a newcomer to the region! How do you fit into the history of this community? We have ideas …
$45 – Registration is necessary. Go to www.heijeuarts.org or email info@heijeuarts.org.

Oak Savanna Park History Scavenger Hunt
2023-04-29 13:00 - 16:00 | Sherburne History Center, Becker, 10775 27th Ave SE, Becker, MN, 55308, United States
The Fox House. Clitty Lake. A gas station that doubled as a home, office, hotel, railway station and general store. Discover all this and more during the Oak Savanna Park History Scavenger Hunt! Bring your history detective skills to this free, self-guided, family-friendly event. Explore a beautiful park setting while learning more about architecture and natural history in Central Minnesota.
Pick up a scavenger hunt form and get started at the Sherburne History Center in Becker, Minnesota (10775 27th Avenue Southeast). The hunt runs 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023. A special bonus for the day,
courtesy of the Sherburne History Center, is a free folk concert by local musician, Dennis Warner, and craft- making activities at the museum. The folk concert and craft-making activities start at 2 p.m. Bring your friends and family to spend the afternoon enjoying history and culture!
For more information and to register https://www.rethos.org/classes or contact Ann Marie Johnson, Rethos Central MN Education Coordinator based at the Stearns History Museum at CentralMN@rethos.org or 320-253-8424. Rethos is pleased to partner with The Stearns History Museum for Central Minnesota education programs. This project has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.
Rethos web link: www.rethos.org/events
Image of Fox House, 2000. Photo courtesy Sherburne History Center
