St. Louis County Historical Society

St. Louis County Historical Society Since 1922, we have been dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of St. Louis County, Minnesota. https://linktr.ee/slchs

Our mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the stories, artifacts, and documents that define our unique heritage. The Society introduces visitors to the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, better known as the Depot, our home since 1976, to the region's roots by presenting the stories of exploration, immigration, and development, in our exhibits. Just a portion of the Society's efforts

are represented by these exhibits. We hold in public trust thousands of museum objects and tens of thousands of archival records, which can be accessed at the Northeast Minnesota Historical Center, at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Our speaker for Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" on September 3rd at 6 pm at the Lake Sup...
08/24/2026

Our speaker for Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" on September 3rd at 6 pm at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum is an expert on the 1970s, co-authoring Minnesota in the '70s, and appearing in a totally 70s TPT - Twin Cities PBS documentary, America Was Obsessed with Turning 200. Check out the video in the link in the comments then join us on September 3rd to share your Bicentennial experience!🤩

What kind of mug do you like to drink your coffee from? With Dad-humor? Vintage? Local landmarks or businesses? Come to ...
08/23/2026

What kind of mug do you like to drink your coffee from? With Dad-humor? Vintage? Local landmarks or businesses? Come to the Bienvenue Coffee Festival at the St. Louis County Depot and sample the wares and flavors. Saturday, September 26, 9 am to 3 pm.

Did you know the Chisholm Iron Man has star spangled roots🎉? Join us on Sept. 3 at 6 pm at the Lake Superior Railroad Mu...
08/21/2026

Did you know the Chisholm Iron Man has star spangled roots🎉? Join us on Sept. 3 at 6 pm at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum to hear about that and how Duluth broke from the Bicentennial pack in Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76".

As Chisholm pumped up its Bicentennial cred, a memorial to iron workers rose up as a potential project. The community held a groundbreaking dedication ceremony for the memorial at the Museum of Mining grounds on July 3, 1976. But Chisholm planned so much more for the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence: A Bicentennial Diamond Jubilee Parade, the Slovenian National Home and Auxiliary's Salute to the Bicentennial, dedication of the Bridge of Peace at the entrance of Chishom, and distribution of bumper stickers: Follow Me to Chisolm, Minn.🚗

Who had more 1776 Spirit, Bicentennial Duluthians or the Semiquincentennial Duluthians? Find out by joining historians o...
08/17/2026

Who had more 1776 Spirit, Bicentennial Duluthians or the Semiquincentennial Duluthians? Find out by joining historians on September 3rd at 6 pm for Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" at the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.

From the Wednesday, April 14, 1976 Duluth Herald, Virginia Hyvarinen was children's librarian who started a Bicentennial Heritage series for Duluth Public Library. Thank you librarians!

Join us for our rescheduled History-in-a-Pint, Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" on Septem...
08/17/2026

Join us for our rescheduled History-in-a-Pint, Charting a New Course: How Duluth Harnessed "The Spirit of '76" on September 3 at 6 p.m. Professor Emeritus Thomas Saylor of Concordia University, a historian of the 1970s, will explore how Duluth’s Bicentennial generation turned the national celebration into a boom in local events—and helped set the stage for the tourism city Duluth is today.

Congratulations, Virginia, MN on a newly listed National Register of Historic Places. The research done for this nominat...
08/07/2026

Congratulations, Virginia, MN on a newly listed National Register of Historic Places. The research done for this nomination is excellent, digging into the Iron Range housing shortage caused, in part, by the taconite boom. Senior housing was one of the most common forms of publicly supported housing projects because "supporting low-income, elderly citizens had broad support."

Why a circular design compared to H- T- and U-shaped footprints? Elderly residents reported that they '[did] not like the long dismal corridors" in their buildings." It was also thought to be a more efficient use of a building site.

Virginia Area Historical Society

Did you know local markets have been feeding the Northland for over a century? 📜🌾As we celebrate National Farmer’s Marke...
08/03/2026

Did you know local markets have been feeding the Northland for over a century? 📜🌾

As we celebrate National Farmer’s Market Week, we want to send a big congratulations to Hibbing Farmer's Market for being chosen as a 2026 Spotlight Market! 🏆

St. Louis County has a rich heritage of bringing farm-fresh food and fiber to our towns. In fact, the Duluth Farmer's Market first started back in 1911, packing the local armory by 1915! Check out the DNT picture story from 1945. Today, that legacy lives on through our incredible vendors and community markets.

Drop a ❤️ to congratulate Hibbing and tag your favorite local market vendor!

Duluth native and Gulf War veteran Joel Turnipseed inscribed Know Thyself on his Marine combat helmet. To find out why, ...
08/03/2026

Duluth native and Gulf War veteran Joel Turnipseed inscribed Know Thyself on his Marine combat helmet. To find out why, join us for History-in-a-Pint this Thursday!

We're hosting author Joel Turnipseed for an engaging conversation about his Gulf War memoir, 'Baghdad Express,' and how veterans can share their own stories.

Joel served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Desert Shield/Storm, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, GQ, and Granta. Don’t miss this chance to hear his perspective over a pint.

📍 Where: Lake Superior Railroad Museum, St. Louis County Depot (506 W. Michigan St., Duluth, MN)
🎟️ Admission: Free and open to the public!

We're excited to meet so many Slovenian Americans at the Centennial Celebration and Convention of the SLOVENIAN UNION OF...
07/31/2026

We're excited to meet so many Slovenian Americans at the Centennial Celebration and Convention of the SLOVENIAN UNION OF AMERICA. Marie Prisland founded the union as a Slovenian American women's organization in 1926. A prolific organizer, by 1933 there were 56 chapters in 10 states. Early on, men opposed her efforts, but eventually men were allowed to join. Today, many husbands are accompanying their wives at this centennial celebration.

Author Event: A Conversation with Joel Turnipseed 📚Join us for History-in-a-Pint: A Conversation with Joel Turnipseed, a...
07/29/2026

Author Event: A Conversation with Joel Turnipseed 📚

Join us for History-in-a-Pint: A Conversation with Joel Turnipseed, author of Baghdad Express, A Gulf War Memoir

Before writing his acclaimed memoir, Joel was a U.S. Marine reservist deployed during the Gulf War. He brought a unique perspective to the theater of war—as a college philosophy student whose reading habits followed him into the field.

The cartoon below from Baghdad Express captures that blend of humor and contemplation: a young Marine standing a lonely guard post, his helmet inscribed with the classic Socratic motto, "Know Thyself."

Come hear Joel reflect on his time in service, the craft of writing memory, and his journey from the UMN campus to the desert and back.

📅 When: Thursday, August 6 at 5:30 PM

📍 Where: Lake Superior Railroad Museum

🎟️ Admission: Free and open to the public

Address

506 W Michigan Street
Duluth, MN
55802

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12187337580

Website

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