Stearns History Museum

Girls Just Want to Have Fun Bus Tour
2024-06-21 12:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | 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

Gingerbread Architecture: the Sweet Elements of Design
2024-11-23 11:00 - 12:00 | 510 Art Lab, 510 Sinclair Lewis Ave, Sauk Centre, MN, 56378, United States
Tap your inner architect at this delicious all-ages, family-friendly workshop. Learn the basics of architecture and structural design with everyone’s favorite building materials – gingerbread and frosting. Learning couldn’t be more sweet! Taught by Evan Larson, AIA Principal/President/Project Architect at GLTArchitects, this hands-on interactive workshop shows you how to create your own scrumptious architectural masterpiece using gingerbread kits from Cold Spring Bakery. It’s sure to be a tasty treat!
Held at the 510 Art Lab in Sauk Centre, stick around following the class for an optional talk/tour courtesy of 510 Art Lab executive director, Emily Kramer. Class size is limited, so register today!
For more information, visit stearnshistorymuseum.org or contact the museum at 320-253-8424 or development@stearns-museum.org.

Special thanks to class sponsor, GLTArchitects!

Escape Room - 1984
2024-12-05 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-12 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-13 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-19 16:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-20 16:00 - 20:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
In our third annual Escape Room, Big Brother is watching. The past has been erased, and the future is bleak. It is up to you to find enough historic relics to make yourself remember. Otherwise, you will be trapped, and under surveillance, forever.
Slots at 4, 5, 6, and 7 pm. 6 people maximum per slot. $25/person, $20/members. Member code required.

Gingerbread Architecture: the Sweet Elements of Design
2024-12-07 11:00 - 12:00 | Fisher’s Club, 525 1st St. NW, Avon, 56310, United States
Tap your inner architect at this delicious all-ages, family-friendly workshop. Learn the basics of architecture and structural design with everyone’s favorite building materials – gingerbread and frosting. Learning couldn’t be more sweet! Taught by local preservation specialist and educational historian, Emily, this hands-on interactive workshop shows you how to create your own scrumptious architectural masterpiece using gingerbread kits from Cold Spring Bakery. It’s sure to be a tasty treat!
Held at Fisher’s Club in Avon, stick around following the class for an optional talk/tour courtesy of Fisher’s Club owner, Cristina Berg. Class size is limited, so register today!
For more information, visit stearnshistorymuseum.org or contact the museum at 320-253-8424 or development@stearns-museum.org.

Special thanks to class sponsor, GLTArchitects!

Breakfast Club- Michelle Skroh, SHM Registrar- "An Object's Life in a Museum"
2024-12-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
What happens to your treasure once it’s given to the museum? Join us to for an introduction to to the process of donating an object to the Stearns History Museum and how that object is then integrated into the museum’s 3D permanent collection.
Event starts at 9 am- Members Free, $7 for nonmembers. Get there early for coffee and donuts!

Escape Room - 1984
2024-12-14 13:00 - 17:00 | Stearns History Museum, 235 33rd Ave S, St Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
In our third annual Escape Room, Big Brother is watching. The past has been erased, and the future is bleak. It is up to you to find enough historic relics to make yourself remember. Otherwise, you will be trapped, and under surveillance, forever.
Slots at 1, 2, 3, ad 4. 6 people maximum per slot. $25/person, $20/members. Member code required.
