Washington County Historical Society

Black Pioneers of Washington County with Brent Peterson
2024-02-22 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
WCHS Executive Director Brent Peterson will be presenting stories about Black pioneers in the St. Croix Valley and the early trails that they blazed in a multitude of social and entrepreneurial arenas. Among these stories is a man named Charles Jackson, a newly freed slave turned businessman who followed the Minnesota Regiment to Stillwater after the Civil War concluded. Jackson began his career at the Sawyer House and eventually opened his own barbershop on Main Street. Another man who followed the Regiment to Minnesota was Jim Carter, who became a custodian and one of Stillwater’s most beloved residents. When Jim passed away, his funeral was the most well attended service anyone in town had ever seen. Caroline Lindsey was another early notable citizen. She and her sisters were artists who displayed their pieces at the Louisville Fair in 1897. Caroline was Stillwater High School’s first Black graduate, finishing her studies in 1898.

In-person attendees:
1862 Greeley Street South
Stillwater, MN 55082
Virtual attendees:
Link to WCHS YouTube page

Caroline Lindsey pictured with her high school graduating class
Charles Jackson
Jim Carter (center) with Union soldiers

Stillwater's Last Lumber Baron with Bill McGrath
2024-02-20 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
In-person attendees:
1862 Greeley Street South
Stillwater, MN 55082
Virtual attendees:
Link to WCHS YouTube page

Annual Ice Cream Social
2024-01-27 12:00 - 16:00 | MN
Ruth Smart at the 1953 Ice Cream Social

Two GREAT reasons to have an ice cream social in the winter: no mosquitos and no melting ice cream! Come celebrate winter, the rich history of our area and our fun-loving community.

The ice cream and root beer floats & coffee are free to everyone! Chili is $5 (cash only).

Generous event partners include Lift Bridge Brewing Company, Leo’s Grill & Malt Shop and The Daily Grind Espresso Cafe.

The tent will be set up in downtown Stillwater’s Lowell Park in front of the pavilion on the St. Croix riverfront.

The tent will be set up near the pavilion at the end of Mulberry Street

HISTORY:
Back in 1950 Stillwater businessman Gilbert (Gib) Larson of Snowland Foods as well as other business people held the first winter ice cream social at the St. Croix Boom Site. Even though the temperatures were well below zero more than a thousand people came out and enjoyed the ice cream and the season!

The event was moved to Lowell Park the next year and later it moved to Lily Lake. The event was sponsored at that time by the Jaycees and eventually faded away like winter into springtime.

The Last Man's Club of Company B with Mike Frain
2024-01-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Charles Lockwood
A bittersweet tradition that stemmed from the Civil War was an organization called The Last Man’s Club. Civil War reenactor and longtime WCHS volunteer Mike Frain will present on this club that began as a group of friends and became legendary.
The men of Company B of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment were 101 strong when they left for battle, and sadly only 34 of them survived. After the 34 men gathered together Stillwater in 1885, they decided to make the reunion an annual thing.
The group called themselves The Last Man’s Club, and agreed to meet each year on July 21 — the anniversary of the Battle of Bull Run — until only one of them was left. The last remaining man would drink a toast to his departed comrades from an expensive bottle of Burgundy wine that was to remain unopened until that day.
The last remaining man was Charles Lockwood, who raised his glass in 1930 to his fellow comrades. Lockwood stood alone at the end of a long table at the Lowell Inn, where each of the chairs – except Lockwood’s – were draped with black.
“When we formed the club, we thought the agreement rather funny,” Lockwood told the St. Paul Dispatch at the time. “After our experiences in the war we had no fear of death. But now that I am last I see no humor in it.”
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center or virtually on YouTube. No registration required.
In-person attendees:
1862 Greeley Street South
Stillwater, MN 55082
Virtual attendees:
Link to WCHS YouTube page

Swedish Christmas Craft Sunday
2023-12-10 13:00 - 16:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Come celebrate the holiday season, Swedish style! This festive day will include making these three very simple paper craft tree ornaments, drinking hot chocolate, munching on Christmas cookies, and enjoying Gammelgården‘s brand new Swedish Christmas exhibit in Community Corner.

The event is free and no registration is required. All ages are welcome! All craft supplies will be provided. Museum admission will also be free for all event attendees.

Hosted by Gammelgården Museum of Scandia and the Washington County Historical Society.

Saving Your Stuff: How to Care for Art, Heirlooms, and Personal Collections with Megan Narvey
2023-12-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Learn about the “ten agents of deterioration” and how to preserve and protect the things you value. There will be a presentation followed by an open question and answer period. Recommendations for how to find additional resources will be provided at the event.
About the presenter:
Megan Narvey is the Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society, where she provides guidance to individuals and local historical organizations on caring for collections big and small across the state of Minnesota. Before coming to MNHS, Megan worked as an Objects Conservator at the Western Archaeological Conservation Center in Tucson, Arizona, and as the Objects Conservation Fellow at the Canadian Conservation Institute in Ottawa, Ontario. Megan received a BA in chemistry from Carleton College and an MA in Principles of Conservation, and an MSc in Conservation for Archaeology and Museums from University College London.
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center or virtually on Zoom. No registration required.
ZOOM INFO:
Join Zoom Meeting:
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Meeting ID: 861 2492 6725
Passcode: history

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" with author and retired law enforcement officer L.C. Simon
2023-11-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
L.C. Simon releases his new book “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” a fictional piece based on true events from his decades in law enforcement working on behalf of children.
Hosted in partnership with Valley Bookseller, who will have Simon’s book available for purchase at the event.

Free!
Attend in-person OR on Zoom (see Zoom link below)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Retired detective Jack Janssen is tormented not by the hundreds of child abuse investigations under his gun belt but by a single case. One case that not only keeps him up nights but gives him night terrors.
Deciding to retire early, he struggles with his subconscious as he tries to figure out where he goes in life from here. Suddenly he finds himself drawn back into his old life and begins to get a glimpse of what the rest of his life has in store for him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

My career in law enforcement span twenty seven years, with seventeen of those years focused exclusively on child abuse investigation. I was also a contract employee for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for ten years, teaching other law enforcement across the state the unique techniques used in this specialized field.
After retirement, my wife and I traveled the country in a motorhome, and for twelve years spent our summers living and working in Voyageurs National Park.
I have never lost my dedication to the cause of children, and recently decided to spend some time writing novels that draw from my experience in law enforcement while highlighting the problem of child abuse in our country. I think I hit the mark; making a fun interesting read and informing at the same time.

ZOOM INFO:
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Meeting ID: 879 3962 7099
Passcode: history

Book Launch: "The Last Bookseller" paperback edition with Gary Goodman
2023-11-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Gary Goodman returns to launch the paperback version of his book “The Last Bookseller!” Many remember his store St. Croix Antiquarian Books in Stillwater, a mainstay on Main Street for 27 years. Gary will present on the book and tell stories about the wild world of buying and selling used and rare books.
Hosted in partnership with Valley Bookseller, who will have Goodman’s book available for purchase at the event.

Attend in-person OR on Zoom (see Zoom link below)

ABOUT THE BOOK:
About “The Last Bookseller”:

When Gary Goodman wandered into a run-down, used-book shop that was going out of business in East St. Paul in 1982, he had no idea the visit would change his life. He walked in as a psychiatric counselor and walked out as the store’s new owner. In The Last Bookseller Goodman describes his sometimes desperate, sometimes hilarious career as a used and rare book dealer in Minnesota—the early struggles, the travels to estate sales and book fairs, the remarkable finds, and the bibliophiles, forgers, book thieves, and book hoarders he met along the way.
Here we meet the infamous St. Paul Book Bandit, Stephen Blumberg, who stole 24,000 rare books worth more than fifty million dollars; John Jenkins, the Texas rare book dealer who (probably) was murdered while standing in the middle of the Colorado River; and the eccentric Melvin McCosh, who filled his dilapidated Lake Minnetonka mansion with half a million books. In 1990, with a couple of partners, Goodman opened St. Croix Antiquarian Books in Stillwater, one of the Twin Cities region’s most venerable bookshops until it closed in 2017. This store became so successful and inspired so many other booksellers to move to town that Richard Booth, founder of the “book town” movement in Hay-on-Wye in Wales, declared Stillwater the First Book Town in North America.
The internet changed the book business forever, and Goodman details how, after 2000, the internet made stores like his obsolete. In the 1990s, the Twin Cities had nearly fifty secondhand bookshops; today, there are fewer than ten. As both a memoir and a history of booksellers and book scouts, criminals and collectors, The Last Bookseller offers an ultimately poignant account of the used and rare book business during its final Golden Age.

Check out “The Last Bookseller” website for more information and to order your copy!

ZOOM INFO:
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Meeting ID: 871 2648 0488
Passcode: history

"Images of America: Forest Lake" book talk with Justin Brink
2023-11-01 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Book cover
Author and historian Justin Brink is joining us to share his BRAND-NEW BOOK “Images of America: Forest Lake”! Books will be available for purchase at the event. Come learn about Forest Lake’s exciting history!
About the book:
Like so many of the places that lined the route from St. Paul to Duluth, Forest Lake came of age as a railroad town and was first incorporated as a township in 1874. Situated on a lake by the same name, it soon became known as a resort town where many residents from the Twin Cities could leave their cares behind for some fishing and sunbathing. Because of its secluded nature, it also attracted well-known gangsters of the era. Minnesota native George “Bugs” Moran had a hideout near the lake, as did the Ma Barker gang. As the resort traffic dried up, progress soon took over, and with it came residential development and downtown revitalization. Today, Forest Lake’s population has increased nearly twentyfold and continues to attract visitors to its pristine lakes.
About the author:
Justin Brink is president of the Forest Lake Historical Society and a lifelong Forest Lake resident. He serves as a planning commissioner for the city and is a registered nurse by profession. For this book, images have been collected from the Forest Lake Historical Society, the Washington County Historical Society, and the community.

Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom.
Zoom Info:
Click here to join the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 812 4364 7160
Passcode: history

Black & White Movie Night: "Carnival of Souls"
2023-10-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Black & White Movie Night, Halloween edition!
“After a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival.”
Carnival of Souls is a 1962 American psychological horror film produced and directed by Herk Harvey and written by John Clifford from a story by Clifford and Harvey, and starring Candace Hilligoss. Its plot follows Mary Henry, a young woman whose life is disturbed after a car accident. She relocates to a new city, where she finds herself unable to assimilate with the locals, and becomes drawn to the pavilion of an abandoned carnival. Director Harvey also appears in the film as a ghoulish stranger who stalks her throughout. The film is set to an organ score by Gene Moore.
An educational introduction and discussion about the film will be provided by Steve Schroer.
Popcorn will be provided!

2nd Annual Historic Grounds Coffee Tasting
2023-10-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Tickets are available now! Click on this link.

WCHS Fall Membership Dinner Meeting/PART TWO: White Bear’s Notorious Gangsters
2023-09-28 17:30 - 21:00 | Stillwater Event Center, 1910 Greeley Street South, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
LOCATION:
Stillwater Event Center
1910 South Greeley Street (located next to the Washington County Heritage Center)
Stillwater, MN 55082
TIMING:
5:30pm Social Hour
6:30pm Dinner catered by Scheel’s Catering
7:30pm Brief meeting shortly followed by PART TWO: White Bear’s Notorious Gangsters with White Bear Lake Area Historical Society’s Executive Director Sara Hanson
COST:
Cost is $25 for WCHS members and $30 for nonmembers.
RSVP is required. Please send an email to: information@wchsmn.org or call 651-439-5956 to RSVP.
PROGRAM INFO:
PART TWO of White Bear’s Notorious Gangsters! Presented by White Bear Lake Area Historical Society’s Executive Director Sara Hanson. The White Bear area was a haven for the 1920s and ‘30s era gangsters who wanted to get away from it all. Join us as we take a deeper dive into the stories of visitors such as Ma Barker and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis – the Bureau of Investigation’s only Public Enemy Number 1 to be taken alive and live to tell his side of the story.
Learn more about the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society on their website
Join us also for PART ONE at the Washington County Heritage Center on September 14!

One-Room Schoolhouse Reunion Party
2023-09-23 12:00 - 16:00 | Hay Lake School, 14020 195th St N, Marine on St. Croix, MN, 55047

Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling: AWA Tag Team Mayhem! with George Schire
2023-09-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
On this visit to the Washington County Heritage Center, wrestling historian and author George Schire discusses all of the incredible tag team combinations that made the AWA one of the greatest promotions for three decades.

Which team was the best? As Schire shares his stories, your mind will be in the ring, wrestling to decide the answer.

Join us for this Time Machine trip back to when Tag Teams ruled!

Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom.

Zoom info:

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 880 1200 0040
Passcode: history

PART ONE: White Bear’s Notorious Gangsters with Sara Hanson
2023-09-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Alvin “Creepy” Karpis
The White Bear area was a haven for the 1920s and ‘30s era gangsters who wanted to get away from it all. Join us to learn some gangster lingo while you hear the tales of infamous visitors such as Ma Barker, Alvin “Creepy” Karpis and Baby Face Nelson. Presented by White Bear Lake Area Historical Society’s Executive Director Sara Hanson!
Learn more about the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society on their website

Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom.
Zoom Info
Click here to join the Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 884 4729 4666
Passcode: wchs

Join us also for PART TWO at the WCHS Fall Membership Dinner on September 28!

Celebrating Swiss Heritage in the St. Croix Valley
2023-08-27 12:00 - 14:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Curious about some of Stillwater’s oldest immigrants?
Join us for a special event at the Washington County Heritage Center, celebrating the rich Swiss heritage and stories in Minnesota, particularly in Stillwater and the Twin Cities. Save the date: Sunday, August 27, from noon to 2pm!
The highlight of this event is the screening of “IN’AVENTURA AMERICANA,” a captivating documentary that sheds light on the Swiss Romansh immigration to Minnesota with a particular focus on the Stillwater area. The video follows the adventures of two Swiss gentlemen, starting in Stillwater, venturing to other parts of the Twin Cities, and to Badus, South Dakota. A contingency of the Stillwater Swiss ventured off to create a planned community. The Badus community of Swiss Romansh was studied as to how it was established and functioned. Swiss Romansh immigrants, alongside other immigrant groups, played a pivotal role in establishing businesses throughout the St. Croix Valley, contributing to job opportunities, and fostering a sense of community for the newcomers.
What’s even more thrilling is that several members of the documentary team will be joining us live via Zoom from Switzerland. They will participate in discussions and eagerly answer any questions you may have about the film. Additionally, the event will feature a delightful array of memorabilia and artifacts, and authentic Swiss cuisine. It promises to be a festive and celebratory gathering!
The main objective for this event is to pay homage to Swiss ancestors, spark meaningful conversations, and share the remarkable stories of the families that shaped this area we call home today.
We warmly encourage you to seize this opportunity to immerse yourself in local history and heritage. We look forward to your presence at this memorable occasion!
We are encouraging everyone to come in-person if possible, but we’re also happy to have attendees on Zoom!
ZOOM INFO
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 824 4214 4044
Passcode: swiss

Stands Before His People: Enmegahbowh and the Ojibwe with Verne Pickering
2023-08-22 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Book Cover
Author Verne Pickering presents his book about the life and legacy of Enmegahbowh, the first Ojibwe Episcopalian priest in the United States who, during the turbulent frontier days of the 1800s, worked for peace, opportunity, and cooperation among peoples. Books will be available for purchase at the program.
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom.
Zoom Info
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 857 4676 2143
Passcode: wchs

Birds of Washington County with Kyle Te Poel
2023-08-17 19:00 - 20:00 | Hay Lake School, 14020 195th St N, Marine on St. Croix, MN, 55047
Washington County is home to a wide variety of feathered friends. Kyle Te Poel is a birder and photographer, and runs Next Bend Birding Tours.
Since 2008, Kyle Te Poel has worked in Minnesota, Maine, and California as a naturalist, educator, park ranger, and in-the-field bird/environmental researcher. Te Poel has worked with several organizations including the National Park Service, Sierra Club, and National Audubon Society.

He has served as a tour guide at bird festivals, and have provided lectures, classes, and special programming for numerous organizations.
Te Poel has a master’s degree in outdoor education. He began developing and leading his own tours in 2008, launching his own touring business in 2016. His website is https://kyletepoel.crevado.com/

This program is free to the public and no reservations are required.

Questions? Contact Hay Lake School Site Manager Susan Stepka at susan.stepka@wchsmn.org or 651-433-4014.

Photography in the Valley and Around the World with Rhett Arens
2023-08-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
https://youtu.be/OtlAMKSuCAM
Rhett Arens is a photographer who has had the good fortune to travel extensively, visiting 60+ countries over the last thirty years. Rhett finds that photography often triggers a give-and-take moment when strangers meet. It becomes an opportunity to exchange stories and find common ground. His work has appeared in The Paris Review, Travel + Leisure, Taproot, The Golfers Journal, Fifty Grande, Lake Superior Magazine, Islands, The Whitefish Review, Boundary Waters Journal and more.
See Rhett’s website at:
rhettarens.com
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom.

Zoom Info
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 815 2759 2078
Passcode: wchs

The Lure of the Pearl Button with Robyn Stoller
2023-08-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
St. Croix Pearl Button Factory workers on pile of shells

The story of freshwater mussels and the pearl button industry in St. Croix and Mississippi river valleys
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, more than a lumber boom was occurring in the St. Croix River valley. A pearl button boom was also underway, employing thousands of ‘clammers’ and button factory workers who labored in the business of making buttons and decorative elements for jewelry and watches. The pearl button industry was short-lived. Advances in plastics technology and mussel over-harvesting led to its early demise but its history is amazing and includes unique stories of locals ‘making it big’ during the pearl button boom.
Robyn Stoller, a long-time member of WCHS, completed research for this topic as a volunteer for the National Park Service. Her project provided park rangers with detailed content to share with visitors and to augment an exhibit at the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway Visitor Center in St. Croix Falls. Her research brought her to the National Pearl Button Museum in Muscatine, IA and several local museums plus many hours at a microfilm reader reading old newspaper stories on clammers and the pearl button business.
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom.
Zoom Info
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 838 1501 7179
Passcode: wchs

Black & White Movie Night: Great Silent Film Comedies
2023-06-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Buster Keaton
Black & White Movie Night returns with an assortment of short subjects featuring famous clowns of the silent era. The program will include Buster Keaton and the third of the “Big Three,” Harold Lloyd. Be prepared to spend an hour laughing! Hosted by former professor Steve Schroer.
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center

16th Annual Beer Tasting and Silent Auction
2023-06-17 16:00 - 19:00 | Hay Lake School, 14020 195th St N, Marine on St. Croix, MN, 55047
The Washington County Historical Society is hosting the 16th Annual Beer Tasting and Silent Auction at Hay Lake School! Get ready for a several local breweries on tap, a silent auction, and the perfect relaxed setting to celebrate the start of summer.

Tickets are $20/person and available day-of only at Hay Lake School.
Ages 21+ only. Rain or shine.

Questions? Call 651-439-5956. See you there!

Preservation in Stillwater with Matt Thueson
2023-06-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
June will be the 50th anniversary of Stillwater’s Heritage Preservation Commission. Commission chair Matt Thueson considers Stillwater’s evolution, looks back at the city’s lost and saved places, and speaks about how preservation has made Stillwater a more vibrant and livable community.
Attend in-person only at the Washington County Heritage Center

A look at the history of our sweetest springtime crop: Maple Syrup with Steve Saupe
2023-06-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center or virtually on Zoom at the link below.
Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association’s Steve Saupe will provide an overview of the history of maple syrup with an emphasis on making a great tasting product. Samples will be provided!
About the Minnesota Maple Syrup Producers Association (MMSPA) –
For nearly 50 years the MMSPA has served the maple syrup industry of Minnesota. Incorporated as a non-profit membership association in 1966, the MMSPA has promoted quality maple products and provided information and education to members. We exist to support and encourage maple syrup production in Minnesota by hobbyists and licensed commercial producers alike.
Producers today owe a debt of gratitude to MMSPA’s first president, Clifford Dalbey of Mora, Minnesota who, along with 13 other producers, formed the MMSPA in 1966. Today the association is made up of over 100 maple syrup producers from the state of Minnesota.
Learn more about them at: https://www.mnmaple.org/
Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center OR virtually on Zoom
ZOOM INFO:
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 816 7774 8630
Passcode: wchs

Antique Musical Instruments of the Warden's House Museum
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
WCHS volunteer, musician, and historian Mike Frain will give a musical tour of the phonographs, record players, and music boxes at the Warden’s House. Come and enjoy the sound of a bygone era and learn how the machines work!
Attend in-person at the Warden’s House Museum

2023 Stillwater Historic House Tour
2023-05-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Join us for the 2023 Stillwater Historic Homes Tour on Sunday, May 21 from 12pm-5pm!
Eight beautiful and unique homes nestled into the hills of Stillwater will be opening their doors to share hospitality and history.

CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS!

How to tour:

1. Please pick up your tickets on the day of the tour at:Washington County Heritage Center
1853 Greeley Street South
Stillwater, MN 55082
The Washington County Heritage Center will open at 10am on the day of the tour.
At will call, we’ll provide you with:

your tickets
a map with all the house locations
a packet of historical information about each house!

Please bring a photo ID to claim your tickets.
Tickets cannot be picked up early in order to limit potential for copies being made. Thanks for understanding!

2. Houses may be visited in any order! Each house will be open the full length of the tour from 12pm-5pm.

3. No transportation is provided by WCHS, so please plan according to your needs. A few of the houses are close together and can be walked between easily! Others are several blocks apart and we recommend driving to them.
All parking is street parking. There is a free public parking lot located across the street from the Warden’s House that you may use when you visit the Warden’s House.
Rain or shine. All sales are final. Questions? Call 651-439-2298.

WCHS would like to sincerely thank:
Truen Group, Tour Sponsor
Alfresco Casual Living, House Sponsor

Darn Knit Anyway, House Sponsor

Johnny’s TV, House Sponsor

Lowell Inn, House Sponsor

Rose Floral and Greenhouse, House Sponsor

The Tilted Tiki, House Sponsor

Valley Bookseller, House Sponsor
Here is the map for this year’s route!

New Exhibit Grand Opening: Grocery Stores of Washington County!
2023-05-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Washington County Heritage Center is opening a BRAND NEW EXHIBIT all about grocery stores and food buying in Washington County!
Best part: admission to the museum will be free during the grand opening celebration! (Donations are always appreciated)

Were you a grocery bagger once upon a time at Hooley’s?
Do you enjoy a Saturday morning farmer’s market?
Did you stand inside Scandia Mercantile waiting for the school bus?
Did you know that the Marine General Store is the oldest continuously operating general store in the whole state?

Whether you’ve lived in Washington County your whole life or recently moved here, we’re all a part of this history.

Come check it out and celebrate history!

Attend in-person at the Washington County Heritage Center

At the Warden's House: Schubert Club at 140: Concerts, Collections, Community with Barry Kempton
2023-05-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Barry Kempton, Artistic & Executive Director of the Schubert Club, will give an illustrated talk about Minnesota’s oldest arts organization, its programs and guest musicians over the years and its Music Museum featuring keyboard instruments, composer letters and the “Music Makers Zone”.

About the Schubert Club:
Since 1893, Schubert Club has invited the world’s great recital soloists and ensembles to the Twin Cities and has promoted the superb musical talents of our community through performances, education, and museum programs. One of the first arts organizations in the country, Schubert Club remains today one of the nation’s most vibrant, relevant, and respected music organizations.
Schubert Club’s INTERNATIONAL ARTIST SERIES has presented many of the world’s great recitalists including Jascha Heifetz, Arthur Rubinstein, Cecilia Bartoli, Isaac Stern, Beverly Sills, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Leontyne Price, Yo-Yo Ma, and Renée Fleming to name a few.
Questions? Contact Warden’s House Site Manager Julianne O’Connell at julianne.oconnell@wchsmn.org

Minnesota's Golden Age of Wrestling 3.0 with George Schire
2023-05-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 South Greeley St, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
Our favorite wrestling historian and author George Schire is BACK for part 3 of Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling! If you missed George’s previous talks, not to worry – George will make sure novices and experts alike will enjoy this program!
Wrestling’s singles feuds and tag team wars! In the wacky and unpredictable world of professional wrestling, good guys and bad guys fought for supremacy and formed interesting tag team combinations that added to the soap opera drama that drew fans in week after week.
George’s book “Minnesota’s Golden Age of Wrestling: From Verne Gagne to the Road Warriors” will be available for purchase at the event.

Open House at the Warden's House Museum
2023-04-30 13:00 - 17:00 | Warden’s House Museum, 602 Main Street North, Stillwater, MN, 55082, United States
The Washington County Historical Society is excited to announce the special open house celebrating the 170 years of the Warden’s House on North Main Street in Stillwater!
Admission is FREE for the afternoon!
Events include live music from 1-3pm from singer Hilary Thavis and Musician Doug Otto. Hilary will sing sections of blues numbers—fitting for life in a prison. Hilary Thavis is a Prairie Home Companion Alum 2010-2015.
The Warden’s House is full of household items donated by Washington County residents. Many of these every day pieces came from Sears, Roebuck and Company, founded as a mail-order watch company in the late 19th century, made its name with its packed catalogs that advertised everything from wigs, dental tools, and live chicks to entire house kits. Come in and see what has been found and you might recognize items from Sears in your possession
Time
1pm-5pm
Location
The Warden’s House is located at 602 N. Main Street, Stillwater.
Parking
Limited parking is located behind the Warden’s House and overflow parking is located across the street in the parking lot next to the walking trail and the Zephyr Theatre.
The handicapped accessible entrance is located behind the house. Guests are welcome to drop off behind the building and park elsewhere as needed.
Contact
For more information, contact Julianne O’Connell at 651-439-5956 or julianne.oconnell@wchsmn.org

About the Warden’s House Museum:
The Warden’s House opened as a part of the new Minnesota Territorial Prison in 1853. Over time, 13 Warden’s lived in the house until 1914. After that, A superintendent of the Prison, Thomas Ross, and his family lived there until 1941 when the Washington County Historical Society purchase the home from the state and opened it as the second house museum in Minnesota that year. The museum demonstrates the history not only of Stillwater’s infamous prison, but also the history of Washington County.
