Addition has moved the Kittson Co. Museum into a new era

By Anna Jauhola
When the Kittson County Historical Society established its permanent museum in 1973, the building became a monument to the pioneers who settled the area.
Over the years, buildings were added to house machinery and cars from days gone by, and exterior buildings were added to show how early settlers lived.
The most recent addition, however, has brought a new aspect and look to the museum.
“I think it has put the museum into the 21st century,” said Director Cindy Adams, who started as director there in 1986. “I think it shows that we have made progress and I am aware that when people come in here, they are just kind of in awe of what we have.”
The addition to the museum was made possible through a generous donation from Curis Miller, a Humboldt farmer. When he passed away in 2014, Miller gave “a substantial donation” to the historical society. Part of that was placed in the society’s endowment fund to help it grow and the rest was put into a building fund for future expansion.
After many fundraisers over five years, the society’s board of directors decided to invest in building the addition.
“In the fall of 2019, the foundation for the new addition was poured. Through the winter of 2019-2020, Bakken Construction built the walls for the addition at their shop,” Adams said. “They hauled the walls here to the museum in the spring and started setting it up.”
The addition was completed in early 2021 and the society held an official opening in August that year with a brand new exhibit – What Were You Wearing? – featuring clothing from the 1950s through the 1980s.
Over the last four years, more displays have found their way into the addition to represent the 1950s and later. There is an extensive collection of children’s toys and one corner is dedicated to area high school memorabilia, as well as yearbooks from county schools.
It was the perfect spot for the Hallock Class of 1965 to hold their 60th reunion this summer. Incidentally, the women responsible for the clothing exhibit were in that class and attended the reunion – Cindy Glidden and Kathy Mattson.
In the original building, exhibits like the kitchen, living room and bedroom will always remain the same as a tribute to those who founded Kittson County. But the new addition will continue to show the significance of more recent history, which has also shaped Kittson County’s path through time.
Although the new addition is open for public events during regular museum hours, it also includes multiple artifacts. Groups like class reunions or municipal clubs are welcome to meet there, hold a luncheon and gathering, but private rental will likely not be on the table.
“I just wouldn’t be comfortable walking away and letting someone privately use it. We have too many things in here,” Adams said.
A great example of a group using the addition during museum hours is the Minnesota Historical Society archaeologists, who plan to use the facility to thank volunteers for their help in the pedestrian study of the lakebed at Lake Bronson State Park. Adams said they also plan to gather volunteers to help clean artifacts during the winter months.
Moving forward, there are always projects to work on at the museum. Adams is completing a final grant to replace all exhibit lighting in the original museum. This is a huge undertaking and will be a big boon for the historical society, and will again show the progress made to continue preserving Kittson County’s history.
On the museum grounds, there is work needed at nearly every building – the country church, the caboose and the school house in particular all need repairs.
Adams said those in the county and beyond have always been generous by purchasing memberships, giving memorials either in honor or in memory of loved ones, and also by giving to the endowment fund. For more information on how to give and continue to move the museum into the future, you can always call 218-754-4100.