Douglas County Historical Society MN

08/06/2026

Check this out!

It's Downtown Alexandria MN Crazy Days August 6-9 and we thought we'd join in the madness by offering 50% off museum admission, this Thursday-Sunday only!

07/26/2026

We hope you're able to stay cool and beat the heat!

Thank you for visiting our booth at Art in the Park today, and thank you to all of the amazing vendors, visitors, and volunteers who make the event possible!

🧊 Pictured is Harry, Jr. from Bedman's Ice Delivery, preparing product for a beautiful summer afternoon delivery in Douglas County, MN. Photo is undated - what year do YOU think it’s from?! 🧊

Ice blocks like this went into the old fashioned style “icebox” refrigerators which kept food products cold.

🧊 Here’s a surprising fun fact - did you know that before the invention of the modern electric refrigerator, the old fashioned non-mechanical iceboxes were originally called refrigerators? 🧊

The use of “icebox” became common after the invention of the electric refrigerator as a way of differentiating between the two types of refrigerators!

07/26/2026

Come find us at Art in the Park at City Park in Alexandria, MN!

🎇 Please note hours have been adjusted for today, Sunday, July 26. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 🎇

We are debuting new historic photo greeting cards!

Thank you!

07/23/2026

🌊 Do you remember the Valhalla Water Slide located just outside of Carlos, MN during the 1980s? 🌊

🔎 Maybe you can help us out with some dates! Please let us know if you remember when the Valhalla Water Slide opened, when it closed, and who the owner was! 🔍

💦 Of course, if you have any other fond memories (or less than fond - we understand the seams in the slide were a little rough) to share, please leave them in the comments on this post! 💦

07/22/2026

☀️ Just in time for the second half of summer - we’ve added new retro Alexandria designs to our DCHS Bonfire Store! ☀️

You can find your preferred style here: https://www.bonfire.com/store/dchsmn/

Take home a piece of history!

✅ Made from real, genuine historic postcards and photos from the DCHS Collection

✅ No AI

✅ Super Cool For Summer 😎

✅ Too Many T-Shirts? They’re also available as Tote Bags!

Your purchases support local history preservation and programming here in Douglas County!

(And we may be biased, but we think these designs make you look really, really cool too! 😎👌🔥)

Thank you!

Archive for Douglas County, MN history. We're proud to preserve and share local history.

07/21/2026

🌘 A secret channel dug under the cover of darkness?! What was happening on Lake Darling?! 🌒

In 1937, the lingering effects of drought created conflict between the residents of “Little” Darling and “Big” Darling – escalating to the point where one group held a secret midnight trench dig! 🌙

Published 89 years ago on July 22, 1937, this article from the Park Region Echo reveals the full story:

“Lakeshore cottagers on Little Darling cut a channel last Saturday night through the bar between that lake and Big Darling, and a flow of water through the channel obtained that should raise the water level in Little Darling.

Up to a few years ago, Little Darling was a bay in the big lake but during the drouth years a bar which was under water became dry land, 150 yards wide and extending the full width of the lake. This cut off the bay into a separate lake and, having only a small drainage into it, Little Darling was not raised by the heavy rainfall this year which raised all of the other lakes in the county.

A collection was taken up among the property owners living on Little Darling last week and men and teams hired to open up a channel. Lakeshore property owners on the main lake protested against opening such a channel, because it would lower the level of the main lake. So the folks on Little Darling slipped one over the big lake dwellers and did the dredging under cover of darkness Saturday night, digging a trench across the bar and getting a good flow of water into their lower lake.

An appeal to County Attorney Kenneth Dell was made by property owners on Big Darling, who claimed that it is illegal to lower the level of a lake in that manner. But the county attorney found on consulting the records that the government surveys of meandered lakes show Lake Darling as one lake, with Little Darling only a bay, not a separate lake. So it seems that the property owners on Big Darling have no legal power to prevent such a channel from being opened.”

Today the lakes are one combined water body once more.

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07/19/2026

🍦 Happy National Ice Cream Day! 🍦

What’s your favorite place in Douglas County, MN to get ice cream?

Pictured here is a comparison of Tip Top Dairy Bar in 1982 and 2025.
(Please share any other photos you have, especially older ones!)

Tip Top Dairy Bar opened 71 years ago in 1955 under the ownership of Norman Hansen, who came up with the iconic name and original logo - which came from a drawing Norman made on the back of a napkin while eating at a restaurant.

The site, on then-Highway 52, was the location of a house previously owned by Jim and Violetta Norris that was demolished to make way for the new business. In an era when drive-ins and dairy bars were surging in popularity, the location proved to be ideal.

A list of owners throughout the years includes:
1955: Norman Hansen
1965: Arthur Hegdahl
1973: Donald Jacobson
1982: James Smithlin
1982: Dwayne Maus
1986: Roger Christianson
1988: Gerald Schoeneck
2002: Les and Delores Butkowski
2008: Kyle, Bernice, and Dennis Kostrzewski
2018: Brad and Kristie Kirckof
2022: Anna Thom and Trisha Nading

🥄 (Please let us know if we’ve missed anyone!) 🥄

Tip Top Dairy Bar is typically open for about six to seven months of the year during the warmer months. While they're famous for dozens of ice cream varieties and frozen treats, their menu also includes savory options like burgers, hot dogs, and chicken strips.

07/19/2026

💚 We have so much gratitude for everyone who made the Alexandria, MN Historic House Tour such an amazing success yesterday - our tour stop hosts, our volunteers, our staff, our visitors, and our tour sponsors. 💚

💙 To our hosts: Thank you for sharing your spaces with public guests yesterday! Your homes were the stars of the show, and truly transported people through generations of Alexandria history. 💙

💜 To our docents and volunteers: Thank you for bringing history to life with your behind-the-scenes studying and delivery of local history to hundreds of guests! 💜

❤️ To our visitors: Thank you for bringing such enthusiasm and joy to the tour! Thank you for supporting local history and your local Douglas County Historical Society. ❤️

🧡 To our sponsors: Thank you for seeing the value in local history and the impact it has on the world around us. Your support makes these events possible and incredibly special for our guests and hosts, who spend the tour making incredibly powerful and meaningful connections. 🧡

We'll make our next tour even better and can't wait to see you at our next event!

07/18/2026

🏠 Today's the day! It's time for the Alexandria Historic House Tour! July 18 (12-5 p.m.) 🏠

This self-guided tour through some of Alexandria’s most historic properties will invite guests to visit local residences and businesses to learn about the rich history of the city and its residents from our skilled docents.

🎟️ Q. How do I get my tickets? 🎟️

--- Ticket pick-up begins at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning at DCHS and is open until 4:00 p.m.! Attendees MUST attend ticket pick-up prior to beginning the tour (advance tickets are not available), where you will also receive a tour booklet including a map and stop information. While pick-up begins at 11 a.m., tour stops open at 12 p.m.

#️⃣ Q. Do I need to visit the locations in a specific order? #️⃣

--- You do not! The tour is self-guided, and you may start at any property and visit them in any order.

📝 Q. Is a list of tour stops available? 📝

--- Stop information will be available to ticketholders only on the day of the tour. Many of these properties are private residences, and addresses will be provided to tour attendees only.

🚗 Q. Does DCHS provide transportation between stops? 🚲

--- Guests will be responsible for their own transportation, whether driving, walking, cycling, etc. Please plan ahead and be mindful of the forecast!

🌧️ Q. Is there a rain / make-up date? 🌧️

--- The tour is rain or shine, as the event relies on location hosts, property availability, and more. All ticket sales are final.

🐶 Q. Can I bring my dog/pet? 🐶

--- We ask that dogs and other animals (with the exception of ADA service animals*) stay at home, and also ask that you not bring your animal with the intention of ‘’tying them up’ outside tour stops. (* Please note that service animal entry is at the discretion of the homeowner for private residences.)

🧒 Q. Can I bring my child? 👧

--- Yes! Please note that all attendees, child or adult, will require a ticket (with the exception of infants.)

Thank you! We'll see you soon!

07/17/2026

🔑 Frequently Asked Questions for the Alexandria Historic House Tour, happening TOMORROW Saturday, July 18, 2026 (12-5 p.m.) 🔑

Q. How do I get my tickets?
--- Ticket pick-up begins at 11:00 a.m. Saturday morning at DCHS and is open until 4:00 p.m.! Attendees MUST attend ticket pick-up prior to beginning the tour (advance tickets are not available), where you will also receive a tour booklet including a map and stop information. While pick-up begins at 11 a.m., tour stops open at 12 p.m.

Q. Do I need to visit the locations in a specific order?
--- You do not! The tour is self-guided, and you may start at any property and visit them in any order.

Q. Is a list of tour stops available?
--- Stop information will be available to ticketholders only on the day of the tour. Many of these properties are private residences, and addresses will be provided to tour attendees only.

Q. Does DCHS provide transportation between stops?
--- Guests will be responsible for their own transportation, whether driving, walking, cycling, etc. Please plan ahead and be mindful of the forecast!

Q. Is there a rain / make-up date?
--- The tour is rain or shine, as the event relies on location hosts, property availability, and more. All ticket sales are final.

Q. Can I bring my dog/pet?
--- We ask that dogs and other animals (with the exception of ADA service animals*) stay at home, and also ask that you not bring your animal with the intention of ‘’tying them up’ outside tour stops. (* Please note that service animal entry is at the discretion of the homeowner for private residences.)

Q. Can I bring my child?
--- Yes! Please note that all attendees, child or adult, will require a ticket (with the exception of infants.)