Stearns History Museum

SCAG MEETING - Michelle Wilson, “Bio-Parents for Peg and Donna: A Genetic Genealogy Case Study”
2024-04-16 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

SCAG Meeting - Branching Out: Tour of Benton County Historical Society
2024-04-20 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
We will be touring the Benton County Historical Society and then heading to Jimmy’s Pour House for lunch.

Breakfast Club - Cory Haala- The 1980s Farm Crisis: Bankruptcies, Protests, and Memory in Stearns County
2024-05-08 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

Hops and History- "What a Rush": The 80s Professional Wrestling Boom and its Connections to Minnesota
2024-05-16 18:00 - 19:30 | Pantown Brewing Company, 408 37th Avenue North, St. Cloud, 56303, United States
Before the WWF took over the nation, territorial wrestling reigned supreme. The AWA in Minnesota, run by Verne Gagne, introduced some of the decade’s biggest superstars before they left for brighter lights and more money. Come on down to Pantown, order a pint, and learn all about it!

Intro to Masonry: Materials, Methods, and Maintenance
2024-05-18 09:00 - 13:00 | Rainbow Wellness Collective, 601 West Saint Germain St., Saint Cloud, 56301, United States
arn about masonry at this hands-on, information-packed workshop taught by John Beaty, design reviewer for the Minnesota Historical Society. An expert in the repair of historic masonry, John will share his knowledge and expertise with workshop attendees, covering everything from the ins and outs of masonry to how to identify problem areas and what to do about them. Geared for both residential and commercial property owners, this workshop is bound to be full of information and lots of fun!
The workshop will be held on Saturday, May 18th, 9 am to 1 pm, at Rainbow Wellness Collective in downtown St. Cloud (Lahr Building; 601 West St. Germain Street). Regular admission is $30. Cost for Stearns History Museum members is $20. Not a member? Join today!

For more information, contact Ann Marie at development@stearns-museum.org or call 320/253-8424.
Register-https://stearns-museum.company.site/Intro-to-Masonry-Materials-Methods-and-Maintenance-p642294937

This class is made possible in part thanks to the generosity of Stearns History Museum members and donors. Thank you for your support!

SCAG MEETING - Scott Norrick, Scottish Immigration to America
2024-05-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

Heritage Circle Tour: St. John's Abbey Woodworking and Organ Building Studio
2024-05-23 10:00 - 13:30 | St. John’s Abbey, 2825 Power House Road, Collegeville, MN, 56321, United States
Heritage Circle Members of the Museum are invited to take a behind the scenes tour of the St. John’s Abbey Woodworking and Organ Building Studio! Lunch (pay on your own) will follow at the Refectory, followed by an optional tour at 1pm of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library.
*THIS EVENT IS AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS ONLY

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!

Breakfast Club: Marla Waseka, Preservation and Graceful Spaces
2024-06-12 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join Marla Waseka, owner and designer for Graceful Spaces and MoXie Ladies, to learn about her work to preserve and repurpose materials in building renovations.
Event is free for members, $10 for nonmembers

Girls Just Want to Have Fun Bus Tour
2024-06-21 12:00 - 18:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Ladies, celebrate the Summer Solstice by joining the museum for a fun and tasty afternoon in the southeastern part of the county!
-Tour and summer picnic at Fairhaven Mill Park
-Tours and tastings at Millner Heritage Winery in Kimball
-$65 per person
-Book your spot today!

40th Anniversary Open House
2024-06-29 13:00 - 15:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Stearns History Museum building in Heritage Park!
Refreshments from Songbird Kitchen will be served, and a new exhibit, “Home at Last,” will depict the story of the Stearns History Museum building.
This event is free and open to the public- we hope to see you all there!

Breakfast Club: Dr. Christopher Lehman, "It Took Courage: Eliza Winston's Quest for Freedom"
2024-07-10 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Christopher P. Lehman, St. Cloud State University Professor and member of the Stearns History Museum Board of Directors, has released a brand new book! In it, he uncovers the history of the fascinating Minnesota figure Eliza Winston, and her journey as she fought and sued for her freedom.
Cost: $7 for non-members, members FREE

At War and At Home: The WWII Experience
2024-07-13 - 2024-07-14 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Our World War II Living History event is back! Come to the museum for authentic World War II military vehicles, reenactors, weapons demonstrations, and more! This year, with a focus on war correspondents and journalism, we have something for everyone- from our kids’ obstacle course to World War II trivia, there’s something to keep you busy all day long!

History Hunt in the Gardens at Munsinger Clemens Gardens
2024-07-18 10:00 - 18:00 | Munsinger Clemens Gardens, 1515 Riverside Dr. SE, Saint Cloud, Minnesota, 56304
Take the Munsinger Clemens Gardens History Hunt Challenge and get a chance to spin the wheel for prizes. Find us near the Gift Shop in the Gardens! For more information, contact Anne Marie at development@stearns-museum.org or call 320-253-8424.

This class is made possible in part thanks to the generosity of Stearns History Museum members and donors. Thank you for your support!

History Outdoors - Blazing the Oregon Trail
2024-07-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
This summer, students will bring the 1980s computer hit to life as they experience the triumphs and tragedies of The Oregon Trail in real time. Can you make a wagon that floats across the river? Can you find enough food to keep your party alive? Will you make it to Oregon?
Recommended ages: 8-14
Cost: $10/child, members free (Household membership required)

SHM at the Stearns County Fair!
2024-07-31 12:00 - 2024-08-04 18:00 | Stearns County Fairgrounds, 1105 Ash St S, Sauk Centre, 56378, United States
Come visit the Stearns History Museum at the Stearns County Fair in Sauk Centre, from July 31-August 4th!

History Outdoors- Blazing the Oregon Trail
2024-08-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States

Heritage Circle: St. Cloud (New) Nutrient Energy and Water Recovery Facility
2024-08-08 10:00 - 12:00 | St. Cloud Nutrient Energy and Water Recovery Facility, 525 60th St. S, St. Cloud, United States
Join us for another Heritage Circle Tour! On August 8th, we will be touring the St. Cloud New Nutrient Energy and Water Recovery Center with the City of St. Cloud, led by Tracy Hodel, Public Services Director. We will meet at 525 60th Street South on at 10 am, with a pay-on-you-own lunch at the Hayloft Bar and Grill to follow.
You must be a Heritage Circle level member at the Stearns History Museum to attend Heritage Circle events.
Heritage Circle Membership information and application: https://stearns-museum.company.site/Heritage-Circle-p623356241
If you have any questions. contact Ann Marie Johnson at development@stearns-museum.org or call 320-253-8424

80s Skate Night at the Skatin' Place!
2024-08-15 17:00 - 20:00 | The Skatin’ Place, 3302 Southway Drive, Saint Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Come on down to the Skatin’ Place on Thursday, August 15th and relive the 1980s! For $7, you can skate the night away to some of the best 1980s tunes, and proceeds will benefit the Stearns History Museum!

History of the Holly Ball Exhibit Opening
2024-09-05 10:00 - 17:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
This year, the annual Holly Ball is celebrating its 50th anniversary! We will be hosting a temporary exhibit in our lobby detailing the history of this fundraiser that has spent 50 years raising money for an excellent cause.

Breakfast Club - History of the St. Cloud Municipal Band
2024-09-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join members of the St. Cloud Municipal Band as they talk about the group’s long history, dating all the way back to the Civil War. Local talent, from college students to those who’ve been playing for 50 years, still play to enrich the lives of our community.

St. Cloud Municipal Band - 80s themed concert
2024-09-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us on the Museum lawn as the St. Cloud Municipal Band plays some of the most familiar and catchy tunes of the 1980s! Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, some snacks, and enjoy the show!

Free Fall Folk Concert- Dennis Warner and the D's
2024-09-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Warner Lake County Park, 143 County Road, Clearwater, 55320, United States
Free folk concert in the park! Come on down to Warner Lake County Park in Clearwater for some free music, as well as some crafts you can make and take home!

St. Cloud Area Genealogists (SCAG)- Nancy Loe: "Finding Females in US Naturalization Records, 1790-1952"
2024-09-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
St. Cloud – Nancy Loe will kick off the St. Cloud Area Genealogists (SCAG) 2024-25 speaker series by presenting “Finding Females in U.S. Naturalization Records 1790-1952” on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m.

Whether you’re missing a naturalization record or finding an unexpected one, this session will help you discover how female ancestors — both foreign-born and birthright — gained, lost or regained citizenship in the United States between 1790 and 1952. U.S. citizenship and attendant rights for women can be fragile, depending on marital status, prevailing laws, social norms and other shifting factors. The presentation will include examples of U.S. naturalization and citizenship records, and search strategies for finding these records.

As an archivist, librarian and genealogist, Nancy has been helping researchers with their family trees since 1977. She specializes in U.S. and European family history research, presenting at webinars and conferences in the United States, Canada and Australia, including sessions for the National Genealogical Society and RootsTech. Nancy’s genealogy e-books and free monthly newsletter are available at www.sassyjanegenealogy.com.

The online event will be presented live for viewing remotely or watching with others at the Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave. S., St. Cloud. The program is free to SCAG members; $7 for non-members. Non-members should email treasurer@scagmn.org at least one day prior to the event. Once paid, you will receive details on how to attend or how to receive a recording of the presentation. The individual annual membership rate for SCAG is $25.

Historic Harvest Fest
2024-09-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
The Historic Harvest Fest is back! On Saturday, September 28th, come on over to the Museum for some fall fun! We will have pumpkin painting, vintage style carnival games, a petting zoo, a hot apple cider bar, a cake walk, and more! This even is FREE for all!

Breakfast Club- James Neppl, "Dead Talk"
2024-10-09 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
oin Community Outreach Coordinator, Chaplain, and Celebrant for Williams Dingmann Funeral Homes, James Neppl, as he briefly explores the history of the funeral business and the important meaning of ritual at the end of life.

Sundown Cemetery Tour- Acacia Cemetery, Clearwater
2024-10-12 17:00 - 18:30 | Acacia Cemetery, 2298 County Road 143, Clearwater, 55320, United States
It’s time for our annual Sundown Cemetery Tour! This year, we’re taking a stroll through Acacia Cemetery in Clearwater. Come a little early for some hot cocoa, a tasty treat as we walk through and learn about the many folks of Clearwater’s past.
$10/person, free for members!

Heritage Circle Tour: Coldspring
2024-10-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Coldspring, 17482 Granite West Road, Cold Spring, MN, 56320, United States
Join us at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Coldspring in Cold Spring, Minnesota, for the final Heritage Circle Tour of the year. Learn about the company, its history, current operations and future plans during this exciting tour with Josh Reitmeier, Director of Operations. Coldspring got its start in 1890 when Henry Alexander, a quarryman from Scotland, helped found the Rockville Granite Company. The company changed its name to the Cold Spring Granite Company in the 1920s after it moved to Cold Spring, a town west of Rockville. Coldspring is currently the largest granite-producing company in the nation. Following the tour, everyone is welcome to gather for lunch (pay-on-your own). Location TBD.
Heritage Circle Tours are members-only tours. They are a special benefit of membership support. Members play an important role in helping to preserve and share the history of Stearns County.
Questions? Contact Ann Marie at development@stearns-museum.org or call 320/253-8424.

Breakfast Club: Secrets of the Waite Park Car Shops Revealed! Barry Schreiber and Ray Schouviller
2024-11-13 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Join us to learn about the Car Shops of Waite Park, where 100,000 boxcars and hundreds of cabooses were built for the Great Northern Railway between 1901 and 1986. Expert Ray Schouviller will share historic photos of the shops, share its history, and talk about why it shut down in the 1980s.
Event is FREE for members; $7 for nonmembers. Donuts and coffee will be served.

Hops & History: Stars of Stearns County
2024-11-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Iron Street Distillery, 539 East St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, MN, 56304, United States
Join SHM Archivist Grant Wilson as he talks about some of Stearns County’s most famous actors and singers, including June Marlowe (left), Gig Young, and Stephen Sommers. Grab a cocktail, sit back, and learn about the big stars this county has produced!
Meet at Iron Street Distillery in St. Cloud- program starts at 6pm.
FREE for Museum Members, non-members: $10.00
