Houston County Historical Society

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Houston County Historical Society Hours: Mon-Wednesdays, 10 am to 4 pm. Visits at other times can be made by appointment. Did you know? Come explore! Free admission Store in Eitzen.

In addition to the museum, the HCHS has copies of old newspapers, genealogy records, and a library of old photos. The Houston County Historical Society, an all-volunteer organization, provides many services to county residents and visitors. Located by the Houston County Fairgrounds in Caledonia, Minnesota, the Society maintains exhibits in the Main Museum, the Sheldon Presbyterian Church, Flatten-Swenson Pioneer Home, the Mayville Town Hall, the Daley School, and the Ag Machinery Building, that are open during the Society's business hours and by appointment. Besides the exhibits and artifacts, the Society has extensive resources, including microfilm for Houston County births, deaths and marriages; land and probate records; declarations of intent and naturalization records; county newspapers; Houston County state and federal census; and county Lutheran and Presbyterian church records. Over 20,000 photographs and growing. Our library includes: county histories, plat books and maps, church and community histories, cemetery recordings and records, obituaries, clippings and ephemera files, genealogies, some school, business and church records. Other exhibits can be found in The Church of the Holy Comforter, Episcopal in Brownsville, and the Christian Bunge Jr. Both are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Society also maintains the former Caledonia Presbyterian Church and manse. The Houston County Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution, established in 1948 by Dr. Carleton Qualley, a Spring Grove native, and reorganized in 1960, to preserve and share the history of Houston County. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Houston County's past through museum exhibits, photographs, research materials, educational programs, tours and historic sites.

Mr and Mrs Joseph Prokes, Hokah, MN.
10/19/2026

Mr and Mrs Joseph Prokes, Hokah, MN.

Mr and Mrs Joseph Prokes’ home north of Hokah, around 1900. Does anyone know Mrs Prokes’ birth name? There’s no obituary...
10/18/2026

Mr and Mrs Joseph Prokes’ home north of Hokah, around 1900.

Does anyone know Mrs Prokes’ birth name? There’s no obituary on record at the Historical Society.

Houston County Historical Society board member Paul Wiste made a presentation about Ho-Chunk basketry to residents at Cl...
10/16/2026

Houston County Historical Society board member Paul Wiste made a presentation about Ho-Chunk basketry to residents at Claddagh House on October 14, 2026, and brought several examples. He has written a book about historic Ho-Chunk baskets.

Photo of Albinus Lilly and his Swiss cow. The writing on the back says that he went to Switzerland to get the first Brow...
10/14/2026

Photo of Albinus Lilly and his Swiss cow. The writing on the back says that he went to Switzerland to get the first Brown Swiss cow in in Minnesota about 1898. Not sure of the date of the photo.

Donor- G. and E. Evans.

Here’s a hospital bill for four days in the La Crosse Lutheran hospital in 1917. The total cost was $52.65. According to...
10/08/2026

Here’s a hospital bill for four days in the La Crosse Lutheran hospital in 1917. The total cost was $52.65. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that translates to $1,507.41 in 2026 dollars.

Christian Bunge family. Photo from the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen.
10/07/2026

Christian Bunge family. Photo from the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen.

Photo of Herman Ratonde from Caledonia in his uniform from the Great War (World War I). Photo donated by his granddaught...
10/07/2026

Photo of Herman Ratonde from Caledonia in his uniform from the Great War (World War I). Photo donated by his granddaughter Julie Gerardy.

Read more about his remarkable war experiences with the Lost Battalion in the winter 2026 newsletter of the Houston County Historical Society. Three soldiers from Caledonia were in this famous battalion.

Photo of Ole Wermager from the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen, MN. Apologies for the reflection in the glass!
10/05/2026

Photo of Ole Wermager from the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen, MN. Apologies for the reflection in the glass!

Wedding photo found in the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen, MN. The writing says Bob Bunge.
10/03/2026

Wedding photo found in the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen, MN. The writing says Bob Bunge.

The post office ( and longtime postmaster) in the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen, MN.
10/01/2026

The post office ( and longtime postmaster) in the historic Bunge Store in Eitzen, MN.

Address

104 History Lane
Caledonia, MN
55921

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(507) 725-3884

Website

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