Stearns History Museum

Our Narratives Open Mic
2023-03-07 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | 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

Uncovering Racial Covenants in Stearns County
2023-05-17 18:30 - 19:30 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Honors students from the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University have spent the last semester researching this neglected topic in the Stearns History Museum Archives, and in other repositories around the county. Join us on Wednesday, May 17 (6:30pm) as they share their findings, the details of the research process, and the reasons for raising awareness about this topic at the Stearns History Museum.
This is a FREE event for both members and non-members. Donations are appreciated!

Living Memory - Celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Pioneer Settlers Association
2023-05-18 17:30 - 20:00 | Rolling Ridge Wedding & Event Center, 31101 Co Rd 133, St Joseph, MN, 56374, United States
Change of Plans!
Our May 18th Living Memory Event is no longer on the calendar. (We know you were excited–and so were we–but sometimes the best-laid plans don’t make history after all.) Instead, the idea behind it is being wrapped into our other upcoming events, with several of our planned makers making featured appearances at other Stearns History Museum events throughout the year. Keep an eye out for these upcoming featured makers! We want to extend a huge thank you to Randy Schmitz at Rolling Ridge, Mary Bruno at Bruno Press (Living Memory prints will still be available for purchase in our gift shop), Liz Fiedler at Sunny Mary Medow Farm, and those who showed support for the Living Memory celebration, and we look forward to seeing you all at these other exciting events:

Hops & History: A Brief History of the Undergarment (May 11, 5:30-7:30 at Third Street Brewhouse in Cold Spring)
Uncovering Racial Covenant in St. Cloud (May 17, 6:30pm at the Museum)
Snooky’s Pub Crawl (Thursday June 8, 6-9pm downtown St. Cloud)
At War & At Home, the World War II Experience (Sat-Sun July 8-9 at the Museum)

Snooky's Pub Crawl
2023-06-08 18:00 - 21:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
We designed a pub crawl based on the WWII era “Snooky’s Handy Guide” map of St. Cloud we have hanging in the exhibit gallery! We’ll be kicking off the crawl at Iron Street Distillery with food options and your first drink included! Continuing into Downtown St. Cloud, we’ll talk about the history of these establishments and the area as well as what it was like in the 1940s. More information to come and itinerary/locations TBA. For now, save the date and we’ll see you then!
June 8, 2023 – Downtown St. Cloud 6p-9p
Register online HERE.
Snooky’s Pub Crawl

Our Narratives Open Mic Night
2023-06-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-08-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2023-09-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Bring your talent and tell your story! Music, Poetry, Prose, Storytelling, Comedy!

Tell your story about YOUR place in 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.

We will be outdoors (weather permitting) so please bring a lawn chair or blanket! You are welcome to bring your own snacks and drinks.

Go to heijeuarts.org for specifics about the program. Please reach out to us or info@heijeuarts.org with questions!

At War & At Home: The WWII Experience
2023-07-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2023-07-09 11:00 - 16:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
We’re bringing back our annual WWII weekend! More information to come later in 2023, but for now we wanted to let you all know the dates.
You can expect the Museum to be full of family-friendly activities, reenactors, interactive exhibits, and a lot more.
We hope to see you there July 8 & 9! Register online here: Saturday (Day 1), Sunday (Day 2)
Download Flyer Register Now

WWII Hangar Dance 2023
2023-07-08 19:00 - 22:00 | The Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Dr, St. Cloud, MN, 56303, United States
Save the date for the next Hangar Dance!
During our WWII Living History weekend, we encourage people of all ages to join us and bring your dancing shoes to bust your best moves at the Whitney Senior Center!
Additional information coming soon. We can’t wait to see you all!

https://stearnshistorymuseum.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/stearnshistorymuseum/eventRegistration.jsp?event=136&

Hops & History: "Whiskey Shores" with Elizabeth Reisinger
2023-09-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Beaver Island Brewing Company, 216 6th Ave S, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Register here!

Historic Harvest Fest
2023-09-23 10:00 - 13:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

Sundown Cemetery Tour - Sauk Centre & Palmer House
2023-10-07 16:30 - 19:30 | Sauk Centre, Sauk Centre, MN, United States

Civil War Roundtable - My Great-Grandfather's Final Resting Place: Salisbury Prison
2023-10-10 15:00 - 17:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Most Civil War history buffs have heard of Andersonville, but Salisbury Prison is equally infamous. It began under idyllic circumstances and ended with desperation. Please join us at our monthly meeting at the Stearns History Museum and come along for the journey of Salisbury Prison’s history.
Doors open at 3pm. Meeting begins at 3:15pm with welcome, introductions, and treats!
New this month: our first Civil War Book Exchange! Bring a book you’d be willing to loan to others. Make sure to put your contact info inside if you want it back.

Colonialism & WWII: A storytelling and writing workshop
2023-10-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

History in the Making
2023-10-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Come to our first annual arts and craft fair called History in the Making. We’ll have artisans and makers selling their wares inside the building. We can’t wait to see you there!

Keeping the Weather Out: Homeowner How-to's
2023-10-28 10:00 - 12:00 | TBD
Back by popular demand, “Keeping the Weather Out: Homeowner How-tos,” is perfect for home and property owners eager to get ready for Minnesota’s cold weather season. This hands-on workshop will cover how to fix cracks and drafts, repair problem doors and windows, and practice the best winterization methods and techniques. Taught by local renovation specialist, Eric Cheever, this class is for anyone caring for an older home or structure.
The workshop takes place at the beautiful Queen Anne-style home near downtown St. Cloud built in 1886 by Frank Fandel, founder of Fandels Department Stores. The yellow brick structure has seen various remodels and alterations throughout its 135 years of existence, making it the perfect setting to learn about everything from energy audits and tuck pointing to how older, existing buildings can be just as snug and energy efficient as newer ones. A must for anyone looking to get
ready for winter!
Held both inside and out, the class will include a tour of the home and a chance to practice the effective skills and techniques needed for keeping the weather out of your own home or structure. A complimentary boxed lunch will be provided courtesy of the site host, Peter Fandel. General admission is $20. Class size is limited so register today!
For more information and to register, visit https://www.rethos.org/events or contact Ann Marie Johnson, Central Minnesota Education Coordinator for Rethos based out of the Stearns History Museum in St. Cloud (CentralMN@rethos.org; 320-253-8424).

Gingerbread Architecture - The Sweet Elements of Design
2023-11-18 | Great River Children’s Museum, 601 W St Germain St, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Love gingerbread? A fan of architecture and construction? Dream of building your own home or designing a structure? Then this class is for you!
Learn the basics of building construction and architectural design at this all-ages, family-friendly, kid-oriented workshop taught by Eric Cheever, the fun-loving Exhibits & Collections Curator for the Stearns History Museum. Eric will show you the inner workings of construction and design and teach about basic building elements during this hands-on class. Engage your inner architect or builder while creating your own structural masterpiece using icing and gingerbread. It’s sure to be a sweet treat!
Gingerbread Architecture: The Sweet Elements of Design will be held twice: the first on November 18 and the second on December 2.
This class on November 18 will be held at the Great River Children’s Museum, Lahr Building, at 601 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN 56301. The class will be held from 11am-noon.
General admission is $15. Sliding scale admission options are also available. Register here.
This class is brought to you by Rethos: Places Reimagined. Rethos Education is financed in part by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.
This event is sponsored by GLTArchitects and Cold Spring Bakery.

Haunted Holiday Escape Room
2023-11-30 16:00 - 20:00, 2023-12-07 16:00 - 20:00, 2023-12-14 16:00 - 20:00, 2023-12-21 16:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

Gingerbread Architecture - The Sweet Elements of Design
2023-12-02 | Benton County Historical Society, 202 2nd Ave S, Sauk Rapids, MN, 56379, United States
Love gingerbread? A fan of architecture and construction? Dream of building your own home or designing a structure? Then this class is for you!
Learn the basics of building construction and architectural design at this all-ages, family-friendly, kid-oriented workshop taught by Eric Cheever, the fun-loving Exhibits & Collections Curator for the Stearns History Museum. Eric will show you the inner workings of construction and design and teach about basic building elements during this hands-on class. Engage your inner architect or builder while creating your own structural masterpiece using icing and gingerbread. It’s sure to be a sweet treat!
Gingerbread Architecture: The Sweet Elements of Design will be held twice: the first on November 18 and the second on December 2.
This class on December 2 will be held at the Robinson-Stanton House, Benton County Historical Society, 202 2nd Avenue South, Sauk Rapids, MN 56379.
General admission is $15. Sliding scale admission options are also available. Register here.
This class is brought to you by Rethos: Places Reimagined. Rethos Education is financed in part by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.
This event is sponsored by GLTArchitects and Cold Spring Bakery.

Heritage Circle Tour- Blattner Energy
2024-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
This members-only event will tour Blattner Energy, in Avon, with lunch to follow (pay-on-your-own) at the Avon Cabin Cafe.
Questions? Contact Ann Marie – development@stearns-museum.org or call 320-253-8424

Hops & History- Kary Janousek- "When the Past is Present"
2024-03-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Bad Habit Brewing Company
Join Fargo photographer and artist Kary Janousek to learn about the amazing Victorian wet plate collodion process invented in 1851, what a tintype and ambrotype is, the basic steps of creating an image, and how she will be using this amazing form of photography to bring the past into the present at historical sites across the Dakotas in 2024.
Cost: $10 for non-members, FREE for members

1980s Car Show and "I Want My 1980s" exhibit opening
2024-05-30 16:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
We are kicking off a summer of 1980s fun tonight! Come and see the glory of 1980s cars right here on the museum grounds! Bring some cash for brats and burgers from Auto Value and delicious craft beer from Third Street Brewing, and enjoy the 1980s tunes that will be floating through the air. And when you need to cool off, head on inside the museum and see our brand new exhibit, “I Want My 1980s,” showcasing all the things that made that decade so rad.
Event is FREE to the public- DONATIONS to the museum are always welcome!
