Otter Tail County Historical Society

Otter Tail County Historical Society The Exhibit Gallery has over 100 permanent and changing displays. Our E.T. Barnard Research Library We're in this together protecting you and our employees.

At this time guests are are encouraged, but not required to wear masks while in the building.

Join OTCHS as We Celebrate Preservation Month!The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called on us to highlight...
06/03/2026

Join OTCHS as We Celebrate Preservation Month!

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called on us to highlight the historic places we love that spark joy, inspire wonder, and connect us to our community and our shared history. Places, and perhaps especially historic structures and sites that we have saved, are worth celebrating!

Here in Otter Tail County, 28 sites have been added to the "National Register of Historic Places." The first site listed was Morrison Mounds near Otter Tail Lake in 1973. The latest was the Battle Lake Baptist Church. The listings are as diverse as the county. They include private homes, businesses, public buildings, and archaeological sites. We'll post a photo of a site every day from today until we've shown you all the sites.
While you're here, rank each site by commenting with:
😍 for LOVE
☺️ for JOY
🤔 for WONDER
🤝 for COMMUNITY
📜 for HISTORY

We have five copies of the book, "Perpich A Minnesota Original" by Ben Schierer with Lori Sturdevant, available for purc...
06/02/2026

We have five copies of the book, "Perpich A Minnesota Original" by Ben Schierer with Lori Sturdevant, available for purchase in our gift shop. One of those copies is signed by Ben Schierer.

Whew! We finally finished the redo of The Land exhibit which features Glacial Lake Agassiz. Come in and see it in person...
06/02/2026

Whew! We finally finished the redo of The Land exhibit which features Glacial Lake Agassiz. Come in and see it in person. There was a lot of measuring going on by our friend Les Pederson.

June 19th: Celebrate Juneteenth at the Otter Tail County Historical Society in Fergus Falls.Join us for a Juneteenth cel...
06/02/2026

June 19th: Celebrate Juneteenth at the Otter Tail County Historical Society in Fergus Falls.

Join us for a Juneteenth celebration on Friday, June 19, 2026 and celebrate the National Holiday commemorating the day enslaved people in Texas finally learned of their Emancipation on June 19, 1865.

😃Enjoy:
Free admission all day, Juneteenth Refreshments including red velvet cookies and red punch and crafts

👀Visit: The "A Legacy of Service" Exhibit

📚Learn More With Historical Programs:
⌚️10:00am - Black Veterans of Otter Tail County
⌚️Noon - Who was Prince Honeycutt?
⌚️2:00pm - Fighting For Freedom: Recognizing the contributions of black craftspeople and artisans from the eve of the Revolutionary War and beyond.

Otter Tail County has a direct link to Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. Corporal Nelson Preston, a soldier in the United States Colored Troops, happened to be serving in Texas at the time. Preston had participated in the Siege at Petersburg, VA, the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, and Pres. Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Parade before he was stationed in Texas. He would later come to homestead in Compton Township in Otter Tail County with his stepchildren. He was a member of the Hold the Fort GAR Post in Dent and the father-in-law of Prince Honeycutt.

Join OTCHS as We Celebrate Preservation Month!The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called on us to highlight...
06/02/2026

Join OTCHS as We Celebrate Preservation Month!

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called on us to highlight the historic places we love that spark joy, inspire wonder, and connect us to our community and our shared history. Places, and perhaps especially historic structures and sites that we have saved, are worth celebrating!

Here in Otter Tail County, 28 sites have been added to the "National Register of Historic Places." The first site listed was Morrison Mounds near Otter Tail Lake in 1973. The latest was the Battle Lake Baptist Church. The listings are as diverse as the county. They include private homes, businesses, public buildings, and archaeological sites. We'll post a photo of a site every day from today until we've shown you all the sites.

While you're here, rank each site by commenting with:
😍 for LOVE
☺️ for JOY
🤔 for WONDER
🤝 for COMMUNITY
📜 for HISTORY

This spring, in conjunction with the “A Legacy of Service” exhibit honoring the military service of Otter Tail County ve...
06/01/2026

This spring, in conjunction with the “A Legacy of Service” exhibit honoring the military service of Otter Tail County veterans, the Otter Tail County Historical Society brings back their popular Friday morning history lecture series. Each program begins at 10am and each speaker will cover a different significant war in the history of the United States.
**************************************************
Friday, June 5 at 10:00am
Speaker: Missy Hermes
Topic: Otter Tail County Women in WWI
**************************************************
World War I was a turning point for United States women. Their service during The Great War so impressed Pres. Woodrow Wilson that he became a champion of women voting. Find out the many ways local ladies helped win the war.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called on us to highlight the historic places we love that spark joy, i...
05/31/2026

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has called on us to highlight the historic places we love that spark joy, inspire wonder, and connect us to our community and our shared history. Places, and perhaps especially historic structures and sites that we have saved, are worth celebrating!

Here in Otter Tail County, 28 sites have been added to the "National Register of Historic Places." The first site listed was Morrison Mounds near Otter Tail Lake in 1973. The latest was the Battle Lake Baptist Church. The listings are as diverse as the county. They include private homes, businesses, public buildings, and archaeological sites. We'll post a photo of a site every day from today until we've shown you all the sites.

While you're here, rank each site by commenting with:
😍 for LOVE
☺️ for JOY
🤔 for WONDER
🤝 for COMMUNITY
📜 for HISTORY

Address

1110 W Lincoln Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN
56537

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

(218) 736-6038

Website

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