History Center of Olmsted County

10/24/2026

Stop into the History Center, pick out a pumpkin for $2, decorate it here or take it home for decorating. Open until 5pm today.

10/24/2026

Celebrate Halloween with us at the History Center on Saturday, October 31st! We are excited to welcome visitors of all ages in costume to enjoy FREE admission and a delicious treat! Explore our exhibits and grounds, visit the archives with this wonderful, family-friendly way to kick off your festivities. Be sure to stop by during our regular hours, 9am - 5pm, bring your ghostly enthusiasm, and let us make your Halloween extra memorable!

10/23/2026

Just in time for Halloween, the Creepy Dolls are back!

After a big year in 2025, the dolls have found a creepy crypt to rest. Their not-so-final resting place features a variety of dolls from the past 100 years, including fan favorites and last year’s creepiest contest winners (see photos!).

Stop by for a visit before the dolls return for an even bigger exhibit in fall 2027!

10/22/2026

Back by popular demand, we're hosting another Historic Junk Journaling Class in case you missed our 101 class in August AND we're adding an option for those who already know how to Junk Journal or just want access to our many vintage magazines (From the late 1800's-today)!

Our 101 class, that will teach you the history and basics of Junk Journaling runs from 10-11:30 am, and the open workshop starts at 12pm and goes to 1:30. We're also offering a discounted option if you'd like to attend both sessions. If attending 1 session, you can expect to complete 1-2 junk journal pages. We will have some paper mediums for you to junk journal on or feel free to bring your own journal. We will have other ephemera and tools available; you only need to bring yourself, but you're welcome to bring any supplies you'd like to work with as well.

Advance tickets are required so we can have sufficient materials available!
Our last event sold out, so reserve your spot today!
olmstedhistory.com/events
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Explore, Examine, and Experience history in our exhibits, archives, and events.

10/21/2026

C. M. Start Residence 1894, believed to be demolished for the building of the High Pointe Condominiums.
Mr. Start was an attorney with Stearns & Start, and his residence was listed in the 1873 in the Rochester City Directory as being on the west side of Glencoe [Sixth Avenue SW], between College and Second [Fourth Street and Third Street SW]. The information from the city directory would place this house later near the Damon/Balfour House.
Street names were changed to numbers in the Summer of 1918, and reorganized in numerical order. The main divisions were Broadway and Center Street, and everything was numbered from there in a grid-like fashion---with quadrants of NE, NW, SE, and SW.
Charles M. Start was born October 4, 1839 in Bakersfield, Vermont. He was married to Clara A. Wilson. He moved to in 1863 and held many offices, including the Attorney General, Minnesota and Chief Justice, . He died December 19, 1919.

10/21/2026

We are excited to open up vendor applications for our upcoming Christkindl (Holiday) Market that we will be hosting at the History Center of Olmsted County on 12/10/26 from 4-8 PM.
We are over half full for our indoor spaces but are still looking for vendors open to vending outdoors (as traditional German Christkindl Markets are usually entirely outdoors!) and we are excited to fill our remaining indoor spots!

Please submit your application here:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/GaJLJyv3Fk

The market will be free for the community to attend, we will have Santa onsite and we will have other traditional holiday market activities celebrating the German heritage of the Stoppel Family's Farm, located on site! We are looking for local artists, crafters, cottage bakers, food and drink vendors and local service providers. This is a great way to connect with the community, get some last-minute sales in before the holidays and support local history!

Reach out to [email protected] with any questions.

10/19/2026

We're so thankful for everyone that joined us on a chilly rainy day for Fall Fest but we did slightly overcommit to the number of pumpkins we needed given the weather! In the spirit of making lemons out of lemonade, or pumpkin juice out of pumpkins, we will be hosting a "rain date" Pumpkin Painting Social on Wednesday October 21st from 3:30-6pm, whether you just want a low-cost pumpkin (that supports the History Center) or missed out on pumpkin painting at Fall Fest, drop in, have some fall fun and walk away with a custom pumpkin creation! All ages welcome, $3 flat price for a pumpkin and decorating supplies, AND we handle the clean up!

Register in advance for the Reading Center Alumni Panel & History Display set for October 22nd at HCOC at olmstedhistory.com/events. This is a free event for all.

10/18/2026

As we prepare for the holiday season, Mayowood Mansion will temporarily close for regular season tours starting October 23rd, 2026. Our team of volunteer, skilled decorators will be hard at work decking the halls and transforming the historic estate into a winter wonderland for our beloved "Home for the Holidays" Christmas tours, which will run from October 31st through December 17th, 2026.
Learn more at olmstedhistory.com/mayowood.

10/17/2026

Thanks to our Fall Fest 2026 Sponsors! We could not have pulled it off without your generous support. See you next year!