Kandiyohi County Historical Society

The Kandiyohi County Museum building.

Established| 1897 (1897)
Location| 610 NE Highway 71
Willmar, MN USA
Coordinates| 45°7′37″N 95°2′11″W﻿ / ﻿45.12694°N 95.03639°W﻿ / 45.12694; -95.03639﻿ (Kandiyohi County Museum)
Type| History
Executive director| Jill Wohnoutka
Website| kandiyohicountyhistory.com

The Kandiyohi County Historical Society (KCHS) is a local history museum in Willmar, Minnesota, United States. Formerly known as the Old Settlers Association, it was founded in 1897 to "discover, preserve and share the story of Kandiyohi County and its people." The archives and Lawson research library are the principal sources used by KCHS staff, volunteers, and visitors to carry out this mission today and into the future. On average, the museum has 9,000 visitors annually.[1]

## Features

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KCHS consists of six buildings: a main museum and research library; the Sperry House, a restored turn-of-the-century Victorian home; a one-room schoolhouse; an agricultural barn; a restored log cabin which was a site of the 1862 US-Dakota conflict;[1] and Great Northern Passenger Engine #2523.[2]

### Great Northern class P-2 Mountain (4-8-2) #2523

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Great Northern P-2

This locomotive, built in 1923, was commissioned to keep up with increased demand for passenger trains along the Great Northern railroad. It had a top speed of 50 mph and could haul up to 12 heavyweight passenger cars at a time. This series was retired in 1955, and this engine in particular was placed on permanent display at KCHS in 1965. Only one other locomotive of its type remains, in Port of Pasco, Washington.[3]

## Exhibits

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Regular exhibits include several displays marking the involvement of Kandiyohi County residents in conflicts such as the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War I and II, and the 1862 US-Dakota conflict. Additionally, the museum features a monthly rotating display of notable items from its collections. Exhibits focus principally on the effects of wider historical events on local residents.[4]

## Programming

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KCHS offers educational programs for all ages, with a focus on increasing youth engagement. They host events, lectures, and workshops related to local history.[5]

## West Central Area Baseball Hall of Fame

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KCHS partnered with the Willmar Stingers, a collegiate summer baseball team, to establish the Hall of Fame in 2013. The KCHS spearheads the nomination process, accepting submissions and managing a selection committee to choose inductees who significantly impacted baseball in the West Central Minnesota region, be it as professional or amateur players, coaches, or community figures. The museum houses displays dedicated to the Hall of Fame and its inductees.[6][7]

## Gallery

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* Grandpa’s Shed in foreground, Sperry House in background

* Guri Endreson Cabin

* Sperry House

* District 18 Schoolhouse

## References

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1. ^ a b "Museum and Depot Kandiyohi County Historical Society". www.kandiyohicountyhistory.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
2. ^ "Kandiyohi County Historical Society & Museum : Explore Minnesota". www.exploreminnesota.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
3. ^ "Great Northern 4-8-2 "Mountain" Locomotives in the USA". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2019-08-13.
4. ^ Aug 8th 2019 - 2pm, West Central Tribune |. "Museums and historic sites published Aug. 8, 2019". West Central Tribune. Retrieved 2019-08-13.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
5. ^ "Regional historical societies and museums tell the history of the area". West Central Tribune. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
6. ^ Bomberg, Matt (2013-12-03). "Kandiyohi County Historical Society Partners with Willmar Stingers to begin West Central Baseball Hall of Fame". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
7. ^ Society, Kandiyohi Historical (2024-04-16). "West Central Area Baseball Hall of Fame Class of '24 Announced". Willmar Radio. Retrieved 2024-04-16.

## External links

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* Kandiyohi County Historical Society