Kenyon Area Historical Society at the Gunderson House

05/14/2026

KAHS Summer Prep Days Friday and Saturday!

If you enjoy gardening, organizing, or just being part of a good community project, we’d be grateful for your help. Come for an hour or stay as long as you’d like — every bit makes a difference.
Let’s get the Gunderson House shining for summer!

Join us on Friday and Saturday, May 15 & 16, starting at 9am each day.
There’s something for everyone:
Outdoor tasks:
• Weeding
• Clearing out last year’s dead growth
• Splitting and thinning plants
• Mulching
Indoor tasks:
• Vacuuming and dusting
• Tidying and arranging displays
• Creating signage for upcoming tours

Send a message to learn more

05/05/2026

KAHS Summer Prep Days — Volunteers Needed!

We’re getting the Gunderson House and grounds ready for the summer season, and we’d love some extra hands! Join us on Friday and Saturday, May 15 & 16, starting at 9am each day.
There’s something for everyone:
Outdoor tasks:
• Weeding
• Clearing out last year’s dead growth
• Splitting and thinning plants
• Mulching
Indoor tasks:
• Vacuuming and dusting
• Tidying and arranging displays
• Creating signage for upcoming tours
If you enjoy gardening, organizing, or just being part of a good community project, we’d be grateful for your help. Come for an hour or stay as long as you’d like — every bit makes a difference.
Let’s get the Gunderson House shining for summer!

03/16/2026

Discovering Norwegian Roots: What Are Bygdebøker?
For our genealogy friends researching Norwegian heritage, one of the greatest resources you can use are the Norwegian farm and local history books called bygdebøker. These books surged in popularity in the early 1900s, when the Norwegian Historical Association launched a nationwide effort to document the histories of farms, families, municipalities, regions, and parishes.
Each community created its own bygdebok, so the level of detail varies from place to place. Most areas produced a set of books, each covering different aspects of local life. Together, they often include:
• Early settlement and local history
• Social and cultural life
• Schools and education
• Emigration patterns
• Church and parish history
• Agriculture and farm development
• And—most importantly for genealogists—farm histories that list the families who lived there over time

Why does this matter to us?
Because in Norway, a person’s identity was closely tied to the farm name. When you find the farm, you often find the family. Sometimes the family name is a hint to their farm name!

Here’s an example from one of the bygdebøker I used while researching my own ancestors from Meråker. Even if you can’t read Norwegian, you can still follow the names, dates, and family connections.

I would love to hear your stories of using these resources in your research!

12/13/2025

Cookie sale is still going on until 11am! And we got more rosettes!

12/13/2025

🎉🍪 Today’s the Day! 🍪🎉
The Kenyon Area Historical Society Christmas Bake Sale & Cookie Walk is happening this morning!
📅 Saturday, December 13
🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
🏠 The Historic Gunderson House, 107 Gunderson Blvd, Kenyon, MN
✨ Now’s the time to pick up your pre‑orders — and shop for even more cookies to take home!
From spritz to rosettes, krumkake to lefse, the Gunderson House is filled with holiday favorites and community cheer.
Come for the cookies, stay for the spirit of the season.

12/13/2025

12/12/2025

⏰ Tomorrow’s the day! ⏰
The Gunderson House will be brimming with holiday cookies and cheer.
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13 • 🕘 9–11 AM
🏠 107 Gunderson Blvd, Kenyon
See you at the Christmas Bake Sale & Cookie Walk!

12/10/2025

🎄 Just 3 days until the Christmas Bake Sale & Cookie Walk! 🎄
Cookies, coffee, and Christmas joy — all at the Gunderson House.
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13 • 🕘 9–11 AM
🏠 Kenyon, MN
Don’t miss this festive tradition!

12/06/2025

🍪 One week to go! 🍪
The Gunderson House will be filled with holiday cookies and community spirit.
📅 Saturday, Dec. 13 • 🕘 9–11 AM
🏠 107 Gunderson Blvd, Kenyon
Join us for the Kenyon Area Historical Society Christmas Bake Sale & Cookie Walk!

12/04/2025

🍪🎉 Happy National Cookie Day! 🎉🍪
What better way to celebrate than planning your holiday cookie stash?
🎄 The Kenyon Area Historical Society Christmas Bake Sale is almost here!
📅 Saturday, December 13
🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
🏠 The Historic Gunderson House, 107 Gunderson Blvd, Kenyon, MN
📦 Pre‑orders are now being accepted for select varieties*
📞 Call Debb Paquin: 507‑838‑2632 to reserve your favorites today!
🍪 Pre‑order varieties include:
$12 per pound – Decorated Sugar Cut‑out, Molasses, Peanut Butter Kiss, Russian Tea Cake, Spritz
$12 per dozen – Kringla
$15 per dozen – Krumkake, Rosettes, Sandbakkels
$12 per 6 full – Lefse
✨ Additional varieties available at the Cookie Walk!
Celebrate National Cookie Day by supporting local history — because cookies taste even sweeter when they preserve the past!