Washington County Historical Society

Tuesday Trivia at WCHS
2026-06-30 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Washington County Historical Society is excited to announce a new monthly event coming to the Heritage Center – Tuesday Trivia! Hosted on the last Tuesday of every month at 5:30 pm, WCHS challenges you to form your team and face off with others to put your historical knowledge to the test. Every month has a different theme and the first theme for the month of June is – Minnesota History!

This family friendly event is free to everyone and anyone who wants participate. For more information or questions contact Heritage Site Director, Alexis Foster, at 651-439-2298 or by email at alexis.foster@wchsmn.org.

The Life and Exciting Times of W.H.C. Folsom by Folsom House Museum Director Alyssa Auten
2026-07-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Alyssa Auten, the Director of the W.H.C. Folsom house museum in Taylor’s Falls, will
be presenting the life and exciting times of W.H.C. Folsom at the Washington County
Heritage Center, 1862 S. Greeley Street, Stillwater, on Wednesday July 15 th at 7pm.
Admission to this extraordinary presentation is free.
William Henry Carman Folsom (June 22, 1817 – December 17, 1900) was a businessman
and politician in Minnesota. Born in New Brunswick, Canada, he later immigrated to the
United States and settled in Maine. He moved west to Minnesota in the 1840s and settled
near Taylors Falls, Minnesota in 1850.
Folsom became involved in the lumber business in what would become the Minnesota
Territory and began investing in businesses and real estate in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
He was also an active historian and writer, publishing several articles and a book, Fifty
Years in the Northwest, which was published by the St. Paul Pioneer Press Company in
1888.
Folsom was also involved in state’s early political development, attending the Republican
constitutional convention in 1857 and serving four different terms in the Minnesota
House of Representatives and Minnesota State Senate between 1857 and 1877. He was
credited as helping organize the first district court in the state and was part of the
committee, which developed the first official Seal of Minnesota in 1858.
Folsom died in 1900. His home in Taylors Falls is now a museum owned by the
Minnesota Historical Society and operated by the Taylors Falls Historical Society.
For more information, contact the Washington County Heritage Center at 651-439-2298
or email at information@wchsmn.org.

Tuesday Trivia - Beer & Breweries
2026-07-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Washington County Historical Society is excited to announce a new monthly event coming to the Heritage Center – Tuesday Trivia! Hosted on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm, WCHS challenges you to form your team and face off with others to put your historical knowledge to the test. Every month has a different theme and the theme for the month of July is – Beer & Breweries! Test your knowledge on how beer is made, and the breweries in Washington County! HINT – come visit our Suds on the St. Croix exhibit for some possible answers!

This family friendly event is free to everyone and anyone who wants participate. For more information or questions contact Heritage Site Director, Alexis Foster, at 651-439-2298 or by email at alexis.foster@wchsmn.org. This event is at the Washington County Heritage Center located at 1862 Greeley St. S, Stillwater, MN.

Malice Towards None By Daniel C. Munson
2026-08-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Washington County Historical Society invites you to join us for Daniel C. Munson and his work, Malice Towards None: Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, the Homestead Act, and the Massacre – and Heartwarming Survival – of the Kochendorfers.
Thursday, August 6
7:00pm – 8:00pm
Washington County Heritage Center
This Minnesota story begins when a gravestone inscription leads the author on a search through early Minnesota history, and then U.S. and Civil War history. He discovers that four siblings orphaned by the Dakota War commissioned that inscription in memory of their parents and younger sister, and that their many descendants now live all around him. Those quiet descendants have kept many wonderful family records, and in those letters and photographs he learns that those four brave orphans lived lives of tolerance and gratitude, lives that answered President Lincoln’s hopes in that Second Inaugural Address.
Reviews for Munson’s works include:
“Malice Toward None is a fascinating and heart-warming book about four orphaned children that carries a message of forgiveness and charity that is truly timeless.” -John Lindley, Ramsey County Historical Society.
“One of the most detailed explanations of events leading up to the Dakota Uprising that I’ve ever read…An excellent history book that also deals with the impact of major events on one family.” -Bob Jensen, Maplewood Area Historical Society.
“Malice Toward None…chronicles the Kochendorfers’ clash with the bloody history of their times and tells the inspiring survival story of the four kids…Munson’s book evenhandedly tells the tale, using one family’s story as the spine of a narrative that captures the complexities of the U.S.-Dakota War” -Curt Brown, Minneapolis StarTribune.
“This is not a bare-bones account, but rather a rich portrait of the lives of four brave orphans, supported and filled in by original authentic letters and photographs preserved by their descendants.” -Sarah Bell, Hennepin History Museum.
“I was really impressed with [the] writing. Excellent work.” -Jeff Williamson, Bloomington Historical Society and the Pond-Dakota Heritage Society.

History Cruise Along the Picturesque St. Croix River
2026-08-12 18:00 - 20:30 | Stillwater River Boats, 525 South Main St., Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Join the Washington County Historical Society for a relaxing and entertaining evening on a Stillwater River Boat. Visitors will enjoy stories of the gondola by John Kershbaum, relish in hearty hors d’oeurves, and treat yourself to a cash bar on this exquisite sojourn supporting the Washington County Historical Society.
This even is Wednesday, August 12 on the Stillwater River Boats, located at 525 South Main St. Boarding begins at 5:30pm and leave Stillwater at 6:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased at stillwaterriverboats.com/specials or by calling 651-430-1234.

Tuesday Trivia - Animal Kingdom
2026-08-25 18:00 - 19:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Washington County Historical Society is excited to announce a new monthly event coming to the Heritage Center – Tuesday Trivia! Hosted on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm, WCHS challenges you to form your team and face off with others to put your historical knowledge to the test. Every month has a different theme and the first theme for the month of August is – Animal Kingdom! Test your knowledge and see how much you know about animals biology, history, and their impact in Minnesota!

This family friendly event is free to everyone and anyone who wants participate. For more information or questions contact Heritage Site Director, Alexis Foster, at 651-439-2298 or by email at alexis.foster@wchsmn.org.

Wheels of Murder by Jeffery M. Sauve
2026-09-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
On Oct. 7, 1896, the quiet town of Sherburn, Minnesota, was forever changed when the Kellihan brothers rolled into infamy, committing a daring bank robbery that would become the world’s first heist executed on bicycles. Wheels of Murder unravels the gripping true story of Hans and Lew Kellihan, two young men from Iowa who left a trail of murder, chaos and tragedy in their wake.
Their swift, wheeled escape sparked an intense 150-mile manhunt across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa. Akin to the James-Younger Gang’s infamous 1876 raid on the bank at Northfield, Minnesota, the Kellihans’ exploits captivated a nation 20 years later, highlighting the fragile line between violence and desperation.
From a rain of bullets to a chilling showdown, this unforgettable tale reveals the brothers’ ill-planned getaway, the dedication of the lawmen pursuing them, and the emotional fallout for their family, as well as the numerous individuals impacted by the crime’s far-reaching consequences.
Join the Washington County Historical Society with author Jeffery M Sauve to discuss his book about the first bank robbery committed on bicycles, and the life and death in Stillwater Prison that followed. This event is Saturday, September 12 2026 at 5:30 pm at the Warden’s House (602 Main St., Stillwater). For more information, please contact Warden’s House director Heidi Heinze at
heidi.heinze@wchsmn.org or call (651)439-5956.

Bad to the Bone: An Inside Look at Wrestling Villains By George Schire
2026-09-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Hey old school professional wrestling fans, MARK YOUR CALENDARS for THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 24th at 6:00pm for another presentation by Historian, Author, and WCHS board member George Schire.

As it always is, this will be another Main Event look at the villains you loved to hate in the ring! They growled, bit, hissed, broke the rules and attempted to hurt your favorite good guys in their efforts to climb to the top of the wrestling ratings!

Schire will share stories and insights in to the characters and personas of these ruffians that made you flock to the auditoriums with hopes of seeing them get beat.

RUN, DON’T WALK TO GET A SEAT!
***It’s FREE TO ATTEND***

DATE: Thursday September 24, 2026
TIME: 6:00pm to 8:00pm
PLACE: Washington County Heritage Center
ADDRESS: 1862 Greeley St. S, Stillwater, Minnesota 55082

A Black Heart Unbroken
2026-09-26 19:00 - 20:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Washington County Historical Society is proud to present the short film “A Black
Heart Unbroken.” This 14 minute thriller was shot on location at the Warden’s House Museum
in Stillwater, MN. Local filmmakers chose this historic setting for their macabre tale…A woman
on the run from her dark past finds refuge at a creepy inn filled with broken things, run by a
reclusive innkeeper with an unnatural desire to destroy what is not already broken. Now you
can be part of the audience where the film was made!
Please join us for a free screening of “A Black Heart Unbroken” on Saturday, September
26 at the Warden’s House Museum at 602 N. Main Street in Stillwater. Screenings will begin at
7:00 and 8:00pm. Guests can enjoy popcorn and lemonade, plus a tour of the museum.
Director/producer and actress Jennifer Prettyman, producer/cinematographer and editor
Sean Q. King, and actress Gwen Ruhoff will be there to discuss the movie and the film making
process. Visual storytelling can inspire imagination and connect the world through the medium
of motion pictures. Movies are an art form.
“A Black Heart Unbroken” has been shown at several local film festivals, including
Northstar Uncut, Flix By Chix, and Detroit Horror Con. It will also play in the Twin Cities at
Crypticon in October. DVD’s of the film with plenty of extra outtakes will be for sale at the event
for $10. The Warden’s House Museum is happy to support the arts, and we encourage the
community to make, watch, and love films.
For more information, please contact Warden’s House director Heidi Heinze at
heidi.heinze@wchsmn.org or call (651)439-5956.

Tuesday Trivia - History of Sports
2026-09-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Washington County Historical Society is excited to announce a new monthly event coming to the Heritage Center – Tuesday Trivia! Hosted on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm, WCHS challenges you to form your team and face off with others to put your historical knowledge to the test. Every month has a different theme and the first theme for the month of September is – History of Sports! Test your knowledge and see how much you know about sports in the United States & Minnesota. From football to soccer to wrestling, we’ll cover it all!

This family friendly event is free to everyone and anyone who wants participate. For more information or questions contact Heritage Site Director, Alexis Foster, at 651-439-2298 or by email at alexis.foster@wchsmn.org.

Haunted History: Warden's House
2026-10-02 18:00 - 20:30 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Warden’s House Museum is excited to host the Twin Cities Paranormal Society (TCPS) for a presentation sharing their spookiest evidence from past ghost investigations including an investigation at the Warden’s House Museum.

What showed up on their cameras and audio equipment? Is the Warden’s House Museum actually haunted?

Friday, October 2, 2026
6:00pm presentation (Doors open at 5:30pm) – buy tickets here
8:30pm presentation (Doors open at 8:00pm) – buy tickets here

About The Twin Cities Paranormal Society (TCPS)
The Twin Cities Paranormal Society is a not-for-profit organization serving the greater Twin Cities Metro area. We are dedicated to the research, investigation, documentation, and education of the public regarding paranormal phenomenon. Our objective is to investigate and research claims of alleged haunted activity. All investigations are approached with an open mind and are conducted in a professional manner.

Haunted History: Warden's House
2026-10-03 18:00 - 20:30 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Warden’s House Museum is excited to host the Twin Cities Paranormal Society (TCPS) for a presentation sharing their spookiest evidence from past ghost investigations including an investigation at the Warden’s House Museum.

What showed up on their cameras and audio equipment? Is the Warden’s House Museum actually haunted?

Saturday, October 3, 2026
6:00pm presentation (Doors open at 5:30pm) – buy tickets here
8:30pm presentation (Doors open at 8:00pm) – buy tickets here

About The Twin Cities Paranormal Society (TCPS)
The Twin Cities Paranormal Society is a not-for-profit organization serving the greater Twin Cities Metro area. We are dedicated to the research, investigation, documentation, and education of the public regarding paranormal phenomenon. Our objective is to investigate and research claims of alleged haunted activity. All investigations are approached with an open mind and are conducted in a professional manner.

Flashlight Tours at the Warden's House Museum
2026-10-09 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-10-10 18:00 - 20:30 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Come and see the house and grounds after dark, while you hear true tales of terror and tragedy from the Minnesota State Prison. Local legend says that the place is haunted…come and find out for yourself if you dare!
Times and Dates:
Friday, October 9 @ 6:00PM, 6:45PM, and 7:30PM
Saturday, October 10 @ 6:00PM, 6:45PM, and 7:30PM
Tours will last approximately one hour.
Tickets:
Tickets are $35 per person. Click here to buy tickets!
Please arrive approximately 10 minutes before the tour start time. After purchasing your ticket, we will add your name to the guest list! Bring your ID to the event to claim your tickets.
Questions?
Call the Warden’s House at 651-439-5956 or email heidi.heinze@wchsmn.org
