The McLeod County Museum tells the story of the county’s nine cities, as well as some that no longer exist, with more than 10,000 pieces of history.

The theme for 2008 dovetails with Minnesota’s sesquicentennial, celebrating how McLeod County has contributed to the state’s 150 years of history.

Starting in March, displays at the museum, at county libraries and the county courthouse will focus on several areas including: medicine and doctors, education, music and entertainment, arts and culture, industry and business, agriculture, athletics, military, people and government. All displays will be gathered under one roof at this year’s McLeod County Fair.

Also new in 2008 will be an addition to the museum’s recreation of a typical McLeod County town’s Main Street, circa 1890 to 1915. A bank and general store display will be finished soon.

Popular long-running exhibits include a 1929 Model A Ford donated by Magdalen Ardolf Miller of Silver Lake, a former Hutchinson school teacher, and a 1958 Allis-Chalmers fuel-cell tractor, the only one of its kind in the world.

Other perennial highlights include a prairie and Native American culture exhibit, enhanced by a 44-foot long mural, and the museum’s period room, which features a remake of a 1950s home. The living room includes a vintage television, vacuum cleaner and copy of “Good Housekeeping.” The bedrooms feature a newly donated blonde bedroom set and also a crib, toys and a special chair used for “potty training.”

The museum’s gallery features the work of Hutchinson native and renowned wildlife artist Les Kouba.

The museum has a variety of research tools in its library to offer genealogy buffs interested in their family histories. Land ownership records, census indices, church records, newspaper clippings, old photos and local history books are several items available. The museum has a collection of county newspapers on microfilm as well.

The McLeod County Genealogy Society meets every third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the museum. The society will aid anyone needing assistance in researching one’s family tree.

The society presents countywide monthly meetings featuring many topics from county baseball and past sheriffs to historic gardening and remembering Charles Lindbergh’s plane crash near Glencoe. Many times collectors will attend meetings to talk about their hobby — collecting bits of history.

In the spring, the museum hosts an antique appraisal, which allows people to bring in their collectibles and antiques to find out how much they’re worth. Those who wish to bring in their pieces should call the museum. The historical society also hosts a pork chop dinner in June and a chili supper in November.

If you go
The museum is on the northwest corner of the State Highway 7 West and School Road intersection. Museum hours are: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays. For information on upcoming events or to become a member, call (320) 587-2109 or visit the museum’s Web site at www.mcleodhistory.org.