Lake City Historical Society

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Lake City Historical Society Our mission is the collection, preservation, and sharing of knowledge about the history of Lake City. Lake City is homeland of the Dakhóta (Dakota) people.

For thousands of years, they have known and treasured this region for its beauty and sustenance. Exploration of the area by Europeans is believed to date to 1654, when French explorers Radisson and Grosseilliers came to the area. The French and British (and later Americans) followed, engaging in exploration, missionary work, and the fur trade. Land, 480 square miles, was set aside in the 1830 Treaty of Prairie du Chien as Reservation for descendants of traders and Dakota women. Before land title was settled legally in 1859, settlement began. Jacob Broody was the first to arrive in 1853. Lake City grew rapidly, thanks to the area’s lush soil, the natural beauty of Lake Pepin, and its location on the Mississippi River-the great transportation corridor of the Upper Midwest. The booming city was incorporated in 1872.

If you stop in for a visit tomorrow during Open Hours, you'll likely find us updating our records for homes in Lake City...
10/13/2026

If you stop in for a visit tomorrow during Open Hours, you'll likely find us updating our records for homes in Lake City. Here's a conversation starter: at what Lake City estate was this photo taken? What do you know about the house? Or houses? We're open from noon-3:00 on the second floor at City Hall.

Stop down at 11:00 on Saturday morning to hear and taste the true story of the Honeycrisp apple and its connection to La...
09/29/2026

Stop down at 11:00 on Saturday morning to hear and taste the true story of the Honeycrisp apple and its connection to Lake City. It's free! No need to register.

Your registration hub for all things Fall Fest 2026!

Word around here is that Cole Younger and his gang were camped in a coulee at Lake City before they headed to Northfield...
09/29/2026

Word around here is that Cole Younger and his gang were camped in a coulee at Lake City before they headed to Northfield to rob a bank. What say you? The famous story enfolded 150 years ago. After the failed robbery, gang members rode westward where a group of citizen volunteers helped a sheriff capture Younger near Madelia. In this MN Historical Society photo, Younger's is face is swollen as a result of a bullet wound received during the shootout.

It's the fourth Friday of the month and that means our exhibits and archives are open from noon to 3:00. No program toda...
09/25/2026

It's the fourth Friday of the month and that means our exhibits and archives are open from noon to 3:00. No program today, so it's a great time to stop by with your research questions.

09/10/2026

Born in 1864, Mary Rahilly McCahill grew up in Mount Pleasant Township and Lake City. In 1919 she became the first lay trustee on the board of the college now known as St. Catherine University. Her daughter, Mary Eleanor, graduated from St. Kate's in 1926. Her grandson, Chuck Denny, served on the Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1994. The family's passion for St. Kate's lives on through many funds established in their names. Learn more about St. Kate's at

Discover St. Catherine University, dedicated to developing influential leaders through a comprehensive, values-driven education. Learn more today!

If these walls could talk, imagine the stories they would tell! We are kicking off our House Histories collection effort...
09/07/2026

If these walls could talk, imagine the stories they would tell! We are kicking off our House Histories collection effort on Tuesday, September 8, noon-3pm during Open Hours. Whether you grew up or owned a house here, you have stories to tell about a home in our community. Help us build a record that future homeowners can access to learn more about the history of houses in our community. Documents, photos and narrated stories are all welcome.

When Bill Stiene joined the navy, he didn't expect to be part of the Apollo 11 moon mission recovery team, but on July 2...
08/25/2026

When Bill Stiene joined the navy, he didn't expect to be part of the Apollo 11 moon mission recovery team, but on July 24, 1969, there he was. Occasionally, Lake Citians find themselves witnesses to historical events of national significance. We're working on an exhibit about Bill's experience. Stop by City Hall during Open Hours on Friday, from noon to 3, for a sneak peek.

08/15/2026

Address

P. O. Box 246
Lake City, MN
55041

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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