History Center of Freeborn County

09/01/2026

Admission to the museum is fully covered all month long, thanks to our incredible sponsor - Cargill. Cargill is a plant that specializes in producing cooked meat products and serves a major employer in our local community! We are so grateful for their support in keeping history accessible to everyone. Drop by and explore!

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

Another fantastic History on the Rocks in the books! We have officially put it as one of our recurring events.

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us last night at the History Center! We loved seeing so many returning faces and meeting new friends. We loved everyone who played along with our segment of the variety of yearbooks on the table to find themselves, relatives, and museum staff!

Shoutout to our amazing speakers - Paul Spyhalski, Brad Kirchner, and Gary Schindler - for bringing local history to life with incredible stories, artifacts, and passion.

Thank you for filling the room, asking great questions, and supporting our museum. We can't wait to see you at the next one in JANUARY.

08/29/2026

Friendly Reminder that TODAY we are celebrating over 100 years of the Itasca Rock Garden. Join us for a special afternoon honoring more than a century of history at the iconic Itasca Rock Garden! Bring the family to enjoy a charming Storybook Walk presented by the Albert Lea Public Library, listen to live music by Holly Day, and take a tour of the historic home.

08/28/2026

NO FRIDAY PLANS YET? WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED! 🎟️
History on the Rocks is happening TONIGHT at 6:30 PM!
Come grab a drink, enjoy our complimentary snack spread, and hear three entertaining 10-minute talks from local history lovers.
Only $5 at the door (FREE for museum members)!
Doors open at 6:30 PM, see you there!

08/27/2026

SPEAKER REVEAL #3 - If These Walls Could Talk

Brad Kirchner- Ever drive past an old home in town and wonder what stories are hidden inside? Brad is taking us behind the front door of 226 Fountain Street to reveal the fascinating history, family connections, and legacy tied to the Armstrong, Petran, and Wedge families.

Reminder: After our last sold-out crowd, seats are strictly capped at 60!
Friday, August 28th | Doors open at 6:30 PM
Tickets: FREE for Members | $5 for Non-Members
Pre-register to save your spot on our website - https://www.lovehistory.org/event-list OR come in person to register!

08/26/2026

SPEAKER REVEAL #2 for History on the Rocks
Paul Spyhalski - Championship Fever

Paul will be taking us back to 1940 to celebrate the return of Southern Minny League Baseball to Albert Lea and the incredible story behind Albert Lea’s second state amateur baseball championship!

He’s bringing original newspapers from that legendary 1940 season alongside real artifacts from his personal collection. If you love local sports, vintage memorabilia, or local history, you won't want to miss this 10-minute micro-talk.

Friday, August 28th | Doors open at 6:30 PM
Tickets: FREE for Members | $5 for Non-Members
Pre-register to save your spot on our website - https://www.lovehistory.org/event-list OR come in person to register!

08/20/2026

Looking for fun local plans this fall?

We’re kicking off our Fall 2026 schedule next week! Whether you want to grab a drink at History on the Rocks, explore history during our home tours, or catch live music in the Historical Village, we'd love to see you.

We are hoping to add more events so check our website - lovehistory.org for more event registrations!

08/20/2026

And that's a wrap on our Tea Party season!
We hosted our final Tea Party & Tour of the summer, and we couldn't have asked for a better way to close out the season!

A massive thank you to everyone who bought tickets, dressed up, strolled through the garden, and shared a cup of tea with us over the past few weeks. Seeing the Itasca Rock Garden filled with so much laughter, story-sharing, and community spirit has been of the highlights of our summer.

Although our tea party series has wrapped up for the year, the historic home and rock garden are still waiting for you! (September 19th is the historic home tour!) Be sure to follow our page to stay updated on our upcoming fall events, museum news, and future tour schedules.

Thank you for making this season so unforgettable! ☕️❤️

08/19/2026

SPEAKER REVEAL #1 for History on the Rocks

Gary Schindler - Unbuttoning History

Gary Schindler, Adjunct History Faculty at Riverland Community College, will examine the political intrigue associated with the presidential politics of 1968. Using his extensive campaign button collection as artifacts, he will showcase the role that two Minnesota Senators played in the race.

Grab a drink, check out the collection, and enjoy an evening of fast-paced history.
Friday, August 28th | Doors open at 6:30 PM
Tickets: FREE for Members | $5 for Non-Members
Pre-register to save your spot on our website - https://www.lovehistory.org/event-list OR come in person to register!