Explore the day away.

Explore Exhibits and Take a Trip Back In Time

At the Stearns History Museum, you can walk from one decade to the next all in one day. It’s like time travel, right in your own backyard.

Permanent and changing exhibits highlight the history of people, places, and stories in Central Minnesota’s history. We encourage you to explore at your own pace, schedule a tour, and come back often.

Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations

Many people believe the United States gave land to Native Americans, but did you know that the reverse is actually true? This exhibition explains the history of the Native nations in Minnesota and the history of treaty-making with the United States. It relays Minnesota’s Native history in the voices of Dakota and Ojibwe people in this place once called “Mnisota.” Come explore 20 freestanding panels and a take in the 14-minute video, “A Day in the Life of Minnesota Tribal Nations.”

Just For Fun: Toys We Loved

Recall old childhood memories. The exhibit includes dolls that date back to the mid-1800s, a Snurfer, a precursor to today’s snowboard, and a collection of early-manufactured Tonka trucks. It also features a working Lionel Electric Train on loan to the Museum by retired dentist Jeff Poehler.

Choices Made, Choices to Come

We brought the outside in so you can explore Stearns County Natural History and its environmental impacts.

Alice Wheelock Whitney

Understand the importance of community giving through Mrs. Whitney’s story. This prominent St. Cloud family left their mark on the community, and their descendants continue to do so statewide.

Minnesota's Secret Language School

Photographs and narratives tell the remarkable story of the Japanese American men and women who trained as linguists at the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) at Camp Savage and Fort Snelling during World War II.

On Solid Ground

Immerse yourself in a 1930s granite quarry and discover the impact of the granite industry in Central Minnesota.

Upcoming Exhibits

Stay tuned! Lots to come in 2022!

There’s More to Explore

The Stearns History Museum hosts exciting events, programs, and research opportunities throughout the year. Be sure to take a look around and enjoy all we have to offer.