Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall

Around 1:00 a.m. on August 20, 1924, four unidentified men came to Cosmos, Minnesota. Quietly, they cut the town’s telephone and telegraph lines and made their way to the First State Bank of Cosmos. They entered through a basement window and found their way to the safe. Using nitroglycerine, the men blew open the safe. Inside, they found two smaller compartments. They blasted their way into the bottom compartment, but before they could do the same to the top section, they wer

Included in the winter display at the Meeker County Museum is a small, rather sparse Christmas tree. Some of the branches are loose, the base is a bit wobbly, and many of the faux pine needles have seen better days. And yet, this tree is special in that it just might be the oldest artificial Christmas tree in Meeker County. Museum's 100 year old Christmas tree The tradition of Christmas trees began in Germany, but as deforestation started to become a concern, the Germans also

While many of Meeker County’s early residents were farmers, it wasn’t until around 1890 that many turned their attention to dairy farming. By 1899, there were twenty creameries in the county. Despite having only the fourth-highest dairy cow population in the state, the county produced the most butter. And, it was great butter, too, commanding the highest price in the markets.

Seventy-five years ago, much of Litchfield and Meeker County was “talking turkey.” For five Saturdays in November and December 1950, the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce, along with many of Litchfield’s merchants, sponsored turkey prize drawings. Olga Hageseter, Frank Holtz, and June Bollin show off their turkey prizes, with Chamber of Commerce members Gary Hollaar and Martin Peterzen standing on the left and right of the winners. The Independent Review , November 30, 1950. At

With Veterans Day this week, we looked to see what the Museum might have in connection to the holiday. The day was originally called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. We turned to the WWI diaries of Robert Swanson, a member of the 17 th  Engineer Division and military band. Swanson’s diaries, tuba, and other items are at the museum. Civil War Veterans are followed by World War I soldiers in a Litchfield parade to celebrate the end of WWI, 191

A look at two spinning wheels at the Meeker County Museum and the stories they tell.

Litchfield’s “Big Hunt” was a popular fall event that was held at least a dozen times from 1871 through 1891.

For several months after the US-Dakota War of 1862, fear of continued hostilities between the Dakota and settlers remained. As a result, several forts and a military presence could be found across parts of Minnesota. This included Meeker County, specifically at the Pipe Lake Fort in Cedar Mills Township. Among the horseshoes, belt buckles, nails, and even pieces of a stove is a small copper shield engraved with the name of HJ Lasher.

If you were to look at a map of Danielson Township, you would find the sole community of Rosendale. About a mile and a half west of Rosendale was School District # 50, often called the Rosendale School.

Upstairs in the museum are what at first glance might appear to be regular chairs. One is a child’s highchair and the other a simple,...

In the early afternoon of July 25, 1909, a memorable sight appeared in Grove City as between 200 and 300 members of the 3 rd Battalion,...

Little remains of the hamlet of Crow River today, but there was once a creamery, blacksmith shop, church, and the Crow River Store, also...

The artifacts in the Meeker County Museum come in all shapes and sizes, but by far the largest artifact is the log cabin. The cabin was...

In August 1887, a newspaper correspondent known as Henry from The Advance Sun  out of Red Wing, Minnesota, paid a visit to Litchfield...

Just over ninety years ago, in May 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced the start of the Rural Electrification...

Memorial Day was started by the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) in 1868, just three years after the end of the US Civil War. It was...

Among the collection at the Meeker County Museum is this beautiful wedding dress worn by Martha Louise Fullerton when she married Tipton Fetzer McClure. Martha (Fullerton) McClure's wedding dress on display at the museum. The wedding was on the evening of Thursday, February 12, 1914. The newspapers described it as a “pretty home wedding” with “quiet simplicity.” To the modern reader, this might conjure up images of simple flower arrangements, a handful of family and friends,

For over four decades, a significant portion of the musical landscape of Litchfield was overseen by one man, Ole A Olson, also known as...

What’s in a name? The name of a place can often tell you a great deal about the people, time, and geographical location of an area. The...

“While we are building churches and school-houses, planting town parks and town pumps, let us not forget the Public Library.” Meeker...