Wadena & District Museum

10/13/2026

FUN FACT:

Halloween, Saturday, October 31, 2026

🎃 Our FIRST EVER! Halloween at the museum.
👻 From 4 - 7 p.m., so either start your Trick or Treating or end it at the museum.
🔥 Hot dogs, roasting marshmallows, hot chocolate (just enough to start everyone on a sugar high!) *While quantities last.
🤡 Costumes encouraged

See you there! 🧙‍♀️

10/06/2026

IT'S OUR BIRTHDAY! 🎉 🎂 🥳
October 6, 1986

🖋️ The Wadena and District Museum was officially sanctified by Town Council under Mayor Clarence Conrad upon the successful third reading of Bylaw No. 17/86.

✍️ Inaugural committee members, who held their first meeting on February 9, 1987, were:
✅ Herb Ottmann
✅ Anne Michaluk
✅ Wayne Leefe
✅ Bob Squires
✅ Marilyn Cannon
✅ Theresa Arsenault
✅ Councillor Dawn Little
✅ Councillor Al Horning

🎩 The Grand Opening was held June 5, 1994.

🏦 The museum also received Municipal Heritage Designation in Spring 2010.

10/01/2026

Did someone say free popcorn?

No school? Get comfy and join us for a FREE movie afternoon!
Bring your blankie, pillow, and friends to watch Coyote vs. Acme! Friday, October 9
1:00 p.m.
Community Legion Hall
Popcorn and juice boxes provided by Wadena CO-OP—thank you for your support!
Cozy vibes, snacks, and a movie—all FREE!

09/30/2026

National Truth and Reconciliation Day

Charles Earley Pipe c1950

🧳 Charles and Eva Earley moved to Wadena from the Scrip District in 1947. In those days, many residents had their own wells on their property.
🐴 Local Fishing Lake First Nation Chief Sabitawasis usually watered his horses at the well also.
🧡 After the horses were watered, they were given time to rest at which time the Chief and Charley visited. Over time, the two men became friends sharing to***co and taking turns puffing on this pipe. The pipe was a gift from the Chief to Charles.

The pipe is a symbol of that special relationship between the Chief and Charles. It is a symbol of hope in reconciliation, honouring the respect and mutual admiration the two men shared.

An example for us all.

09/28/2026

FUN FACTS

Scarecrows

🌾 First used by the Egyptians around 2500 B.C. to protect wheat fields along the Nile.
🍇 At the same time, Greeks carved the god of vegetable gardens (Priapus) into wooden structures to keep birds away from the vineyards.
⛩️ In Japan, farmers hung old rags, meat, and fish bones on their scarecrows. as the smell deterred birds and other vermin.

Well, isn't that fun!

Wadena Scarecrow Contest!
It’s time to give your scarecrow some personality! Make it funny, spooky, or as creative as you like, then put it on display for the community to enjoy.
To enter, email a photo of your scarecrow, along with your name and address, to [email protected] by October 25.
We can’t wait to see what Wadena comes up with!

09/17/2026

Great job everyone!

09/16/2026

Want to get better at writing grants?
Join us for a Grant Writing Workshop right here in Wadena!

09/11/2026

CEMENTED INTO HISTORY

Bell Towers
🥾Our bell towers received cement boots today.
🙏Thanks to "Darcy's (Linde) Friends" who:
🪏dug the holes (Doug Ward)
🦾made the towers (Dave Paulson, Wadena Steel)
🩸primed and painted them (Ed Hunt),
🪏dug the holes and made the frames (Darcy, Ed and Cliff Hunt),
👷‍♂️righted the towers (Ed, Cliff and Darcy)
🚛poured the cement (Dan McNamee, J Dubs Concrete)
👏finished the job (Ed, Darcy and Doug Fitch)
✍️and Bill Sowa who funded the pour.

Another big job done!
We are so grateful for all of the support we receive from the community at large for helping to complete "Darcy's List."
(It's really long ... and we are on to 2027, so don't go anywhere :)