Clay County Historical Society

10/20/2026

James Condell purchased this guitar in Spain while visiting in the 1970s. While guitars originated in Spain, they've becoming an iconic part of Americana. Learn more about the origins and importance in music with Markus Krueger at The History of Guitars Lecture Concert on October 27 at the Concordia Centrum!

James Condell's guitar, donated by Yvonne Condell in 2024.

10/19/2026

Ever wondered who designed the posters for Ralph's? Many of them were local artists and musicians doing this for fun. These folks used their art skills to make innovative posters for their bands as part of a nationwide movement that combined rock music and visual art. Learn more about this unground art style here https://youtu.be/-2Pj6v17HCg?si=ZzbQq_lWsuzxB929

Sponsored by the Lake Agassiz Regional Library, thanks in part to funding from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Fund

Artists Amy Jo, Lonny Unitas, Justin Seng, Amber Fletschock, and Mi...

10/19/2026

Like the ball says, Hawley's Volleyball team has been back to back state champs. Since 1982 Hawley has had a Volleyball team, which has seen a lot of success over the years. This ball is from the 2025 season and each player got the chance to write their name on it before it was added to our collection last month.

10/15/2026

Pangea is officially less then a month away! Pangea has been a chance to celebrate the diversity of America since Yoke-Sum Gunaratne started the event in the mid-1990s. Join us on November 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for this celebration and travel around the world at the Hjemkomst Museum.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a Minnesota State Legislative appropriation; The Arts Partnership with the Cities of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo; the Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation; and sponsors Sanford, the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, and West Central Initiative.

10/14/2026

Cora Waller was many things in her lifetime: a mom, farmer's wife, and nurse. She also ran Norwegian Maid Lefse in Ulen between 1959 and 1966. During the production season, lefse replaced bread in the Waller household. The children liked to eat their lefse with hot dogs, dried beef, or jelly. The factory eventually moved to Hawley and she left the business, but lefse remained important to the Wallers. Cora and her husband Charles gifted their daugher Mary a lefse grill in 1972, one she still uses today.

Norwegian Maid Lefse hat and lable, loaned courtesy of Mary Waller.

10/12/2026

Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day! CCHS continues to work towards preserving local Indigenous history and work with members of the community who have called this place home for centuries.

10/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to participate in our 3rd annual History Hustle 5k! Your hustle helps us tell and preserve the stories of Clay County for future generations. Another special thank you to all of our board members, volunteers, and our sponsors; Touchmark at Harwood Groves , YHR Partners Architects , Hawley Lions, and Starbird Lounge !
🧡💚🧡

10/09/2026

Shirts and medals are ready for tomorrow’s 5k. Register here https://shorturl.at/nEvCa!

10/09/2026

A fiddle family reunion! Knut and Gunnar Helland created the fiddle on the left in 1913 while living in Chippewa Falls. It's now housed at the Ulen Museum, but was at our museum to get a string replaced. The fiddle on the right is in our collection and was made by John Erikson Helland in 1830, Great Grandfather of Knut and Gunnar. Look at the size difference!

10/08/2026

Who are your neighbors? Do you know their story? CCHS and Green Card Voices are partnering to bring people together on October 29. Immigrants, refugees, and nonimmigrants are invited to share stories using the game Story Stitch. Bring your friends and family with too! Enjoy a free meal as well!

RSVP here https://shorturl.at/Y57cW.

More information on Green Card Voices https://www.greencardvoices.org/about/what-we-do/