Washington County Historical Society

Based out of Stillwater, “The Birthplace of Minnesota”, the Washington County Historical Society collects, preserves, and disseminates the history of Washington County and its communities. Join us on our journey through the Gateway to Minnesota History!

Museums are Open for the Tour Season

The Warden’s House Museum in Stillwater and The Hay Lake School Museum & Erickson Log House are now open.

: Hay Lake School Museum

: Warden’s House Museum

Museums & Research Center Hours

Nancy & Robert Goodman Research Center
602 Main Street N., Stillwater
Open year-round
Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays 12:00-5:00 PM, Wednesdays 3:00-6:00 PM
Please call ahead or email to confirm research center availability.
(651) 439-5956 | information@wchsmn.org

Warden’s House Museum
602 Main Street N., Stillwater
May – October: Thursdays – Sundays
Tours on the hour at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, & 4:00 PM.

Hay Lake School and Johannes Erickson Log Home
14020 195th St N, Marine on St Croix
May, September, October: Saturdays & Sundays 1:00-4:00 PM
June-August: Fridays – Sundays 1:00-4:00 PM

Eder School House
4442 Hadley Ave N, Oakdale, MN
June – August: Sundays 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

WCHS Latest Publications

Company K in the Border War

In 1916, Company K of the Stillwater National Guard was dispatched to the Mexican Border to defend against attacks from the famous Mexican rebel, Poncho Villa. Through letters and photographs from the WCHS collection, “Company K in the Border War” details the in-glamorous reality these Stillwater men faced while stationed in Texas.

This book recently won a Minnesota History Award for publications!!

Thru the Mill

Originally published in 1915, “Thru the Mill” was written by inmate number “4342”, George Bartlett, who served ten months in the old Stillwater Prison. This book is his account of life behind the stone walls of Minnesota’s most infamous prison.

Want to help support your local history? Here’s your chance!

The Washington County Historical Society is the only county historical society in Minnesota that receives no annual assistance from their county.

We are 100% reliant on your generosity.

Thank you for helping us save our shared stories and history!

	June 2019
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9	10	11	12	13	14	15 Hay Lake Beer Tasting Hay Lake Beer Tasting June 15, 2019 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Hay Lake School & Erickson, 14020 195th St N, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047, USA $20 per person. 21+ event Tickets available at the door. See more details •
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23 Program: Evolution of Corrections in MN Program: Evolution of Corrections in MN June 23, 2019 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm Warden's House Museum, 602 Main St N, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA Free program. No reservations required Victor Wanchena, Associate Warden of \| MCF-Stillwater Minnesota Department of Corrections See more details •	24	25	26	27 Minnesota's Most Notorious Podcast Recording Minnesota's Most Notorious Podcast Recording June 27, 2019 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Warden's House Museum, 602 Main St N, Stillwater, MN 55082, USA Join us for a live podcast recording inside the Warden's House. This event is free. Reservations are not required but are recommended, e-mail gibson@wchsmn.org. Erik Rivenes, host of the Most Notorious and Minnesota's Most Notorious podcasts, has spent over twenty years compiling a file of historical true crime stories from his native state of Minnesota. These stories are presented here, in titillating, tragic, often gruesome and occasionally bizarre detail. "Most Notorious! could quite possibly be just an excuse for host Erik Rivenes to interview his favorite writers – but even if that were the impetus, the result is excellent. Each week Rivenes, a historical detective novelist, posts lengthy interviews he's conducted with people who literally wrote the book on a murder or other gruesome event – from Joseph Conforti on Lizzie Borden's 1892 parricide, to Michael Fedo on the 1920 lynching of three young African American men in Duluth, Minnesota. Rivenes, who was a professional 19th-century reenactor and led Saint Paul Gangster Tours before settling into a career as a teacher and writer, also has produced audio tours of Minneapolis. Though the production quality isn't particularly spectacular, the podcast is impressive because of Rivenes' insatiable curiosity and pointed questions, which make even the most seasoned experts reconsider the stories they know so well." - Rolling Stone See more details •	28	29
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Gateway to Minnesota History