Come join us at WCHS as we host guest speaker Katharine Chute as she presents "Crops of the Future: How the Forever Green Initiative is bringing new, sustainable food, feed, and fuel crops to Minnesota farmers."

Katharine is the Product and Market Development Specialist at the University of Minnesota’s Forever Green Initiative. Forever Green develops, improves, and commercializes winter-hardy annual and perennial crops that protect soil and water resources while creating new economic opportunities for growers, industry, and communities across Minnesota and beyond. Crops include Midwest hazelnuts, elderberries, Kernza perennial grain, winter barley, winter camelina, perennial flax, and more! Prior to working at Forever Green, Katharine was employed at 3M doing strategic marketing research. She completed an MS/MBA degree from the University of Michigan in 2022. Katharine is originally from Wayzata, MN.

No registration necessary for this free event. Light refreshments will be served.

Come join us as the Rockford Historical Society brings to WCHS the newly updated book: Rockford: The Way it Really Was, by Mouraine Baker Hubler. The publisher and historical society will be on hand to read excerpts, talk about some personal stories, and more. Books will be on site for sale. Refreshments will be served. No registration necessary.

“In October 1855, three men left St. Paul, traveling upstream on the Mississippi River in search of a new beginning. Their journey led them to the Crow River and into what was known as "The Big Woods." More than two years before Minnesota became a state, the area had no roads, only footpaths used by Native Americans. This book documents the settling of the Rockford area and its growth into a village. The community faced numerous hardships, including the grasshopper plague of 1856, the Wright County War, the economic crashes of 1857 and 1873, and multiple floods of the Crow River. Yet, by 1900, Rockford had become a flourishing community with three profitable mills and several other successful businesses. Originally published in 1985, this book has been republished by the Rockford Area Historical Society and the Elmwood Cemetery Association. The new edition includes more than three times the original number of photographs, offering readers a firsthand look at Rockford's historic past.”

Come to the WCHS Activity Room starting at 10am to check out donated seeds, chat up a Master Gardener, and share your own gardening experiences. Bring your own packets to trade with others at this free event.

Emily Christine Holt is a Digital Composite Artist (non-AI) with her main subject matter being self-portraits. Always a creative individual, fell upon this medium during the pandemic. There she found herself realizing these creative thoughts deserved to have a space and not be lost to the forgotten abyss.

Digital Reflections: Unraveling the Layers to My Story, will run in the WCHS Community Art Space from March 15th thru April 18th. The opening reception will have the artist on hand to answer questions and talk about her work.

Local expert Steve Barthel will be introducing the free familysearch.org website, which contains the world's largest collection of online Catholic and Protestant church registers, governmental records, and so forth. Learn how to work the Family Tree, find and enter diacritical marks (such as ąęöÿØ, etc.) that often appear in names and localities of foreign and sometimes domestic records. Learn how to download those old photos to your family tree, so that others may benefit. How and where to research records from home, and an explanation of the differences between a FamilySearch Center and a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, and what you can access in the comfort of your own home. Many other functions will be addressed. There will be a Q&A following.

Supernatural Investigators of Minnesota (SIM)is a team of seasoned paranormal investigators that research all areas of the supernatural: spirits, bigfoot, cryptozoology, and UFOs since 2010. Paranormal Investigation is their specialty, and they have completed hundreds of investigations over the years. SIM has investigated all types of locations from single family residential properties to enormous, abandoned health care facilities.  

The team will present paranormal evidence that they have captured over the years, and will focus on their newest area of research, the dynamic field of Cold Case Investigation. SIMCrew Cold Case investigation has encompassed the cases missing and murdered women in the Wright County area spanning a timeline of over 50 years. Their goal is to bring peace to the spirits of the women who have been the victims of horrific crimes and closure to their families.

True crime podcaster Amy Pierce, of “Aren’t You the Girl” podcast will join the crew for this special event.

And it's back! Barn quilts have been a mainstay in the local communities for years and throughout the nearby states for even longer. Now is your chance to paint one of your very own. Join the Wright County Historical Society and Sue Edwards, aka The Barn Quilt Lady, in the creation of your very own Barn Quilt. These colorful and pre-patterned works are a fantastic addition to your home or barn.

Limited space available! Contact us to register and no supplies are necessary. Call, or email for more questions/concerns.

763.682.7323

info@wrighthistory.org

POSTPONED TO MARCH 8th!!!!!!

Local expert Steve Barthel will be introducing the free familysearch.org website, which contains the world's largest collection of online Catholic and Protestant church registers, governmental records, and so forth. Learn how to work the Family Tree, find and enter diacritical marks (such as ąęöÿØ, etc.) that often appear in names and localities of foreign and sometimes domestic records. Learn how to download those old photos to your family tree, so that others may benefit. How and where to research records from home, and an explanation of the differences between a FamilySearch Center and a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, and what you can access in the comfort of your own home. Many other functions will be addressed. There will be a Q&A following.

Is your head in the clouds? Do you find yourself fascinated as airplanes shoots across the sky? Then come to WCHS and learn some history on one the biggest names in aviation. The talk will focus on the early years of The Boeing Airplane Company of Seattle, Washington, from its beginning in 1916 to the United States entering World War II. Using selected aircraft from this 25-year period to illustrate Boeing’s processes of emulation, innovation, and invention with the design-build, engineering, and manufacturing of commercial and military aircraft. The talk will address the questions how Boeing the man and his company survived the uncertainties of the 1920s and then the Depression years 1930s.The results of which turned Boeing Seattle into a world-wide technical aviation center for aircraft design, engineering and production of aircraft for both the B-17 and B-29 World War II Strategic Bombers.

This is a free presentation to all ages. No registration necessary. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be provided. Please contact us with any questions, or concerns.

Mike Lavelle is an aviation historian and author with 60 years of aviation experience, that has included 12 years at the Cessna Aircraft Company and 24 years with the Boeing Company. At both companies Mike held instructor and management positions for aircraft flight crew and aircraft maintenance training for both companies commercial and military aircraft divisions.
After retiring from Boeing in 2005, he was the Director of Development and Public Programs at the Museum of Flight in Seattle until 2012.

Please join us for this intriguing presentation by Craig Johnson (PLS, CFedS) on what was meant to be, but never happened. In the Minnesota Territory from 1854 to 1857, Land speculators had over 700 townsites surveyed, platted and recorded. The Land speculators hired surveyors to layout these Townsites in anticipation of the massive influx of settlers that would arrive after Minnesota was surveyed by the Government Surveyors. Only a small portion of these Townsites became populated, Examples in Wright County of Towns that grew into populated areas are Buffalo and Monticello. In Wright County there were about 14+/- Townsites that never became populated, these are known as Ghost Plats, or (Paper Towns).

This is a free presentation to all ages. No registration necessary. Coffee, water, and light snacks will be provided. Please contact us with any questions, or concerns.

Mr. Johnson has been a Land Surveyor for 47 years; He has a BES degree from St. Cloud State University and a Diploma in Civil & Surveying Technology from Albuquerque Technical College.
Craig is a Licensed Professional Land Surveyor and a Certified Federal Surveyor. He is semi-retired and works part time at Community Land Services in Annandale, MN

Come and hear musician and singer, Colleen Austin during our Festival of Trees extended evening. She will entertain you all, playing a variety of classic holiday music with her Celtic harp.

Children of all ages are invited to come to WCHS and listen to stories read by our volunteers. Enjoy cookies, drink hot chocolate, and receive your very own flannel throw blanket!

Readings start at 10am and go on throughout the day. This is a free event with no registration, or fee necessary.

Join us at the Festival of Trees this extended evening and listen to the Buffalo High School Singers group as they act as carolers wandering through the festival. BHS Choir Director Zack Carlson directs this heartwarming holiday treat.

Join us for a fun Saturday Make & Take activity here at WCHS. Our Festival of Trees is in full swing and our Saturdays are here for a variety of make & take programs. This free ornament making event is for all ages, with no registration, or materials necessary.

Come and hear musician and singer, Colleen Austin during our Festival of Trees extended evening. She will entertain you all, playing a variety of classic holiday music with her Celtic harp.

As a special treat here at the Festival of Trees, we’ve invited Santa himself to come and visit! Come with the family to take pictures with the jolly elf and see if he knows if you’ve been naughty or nice.

The Wright County Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to serving our community, invites all adults (18+) to join them on Thursday, November 14th at 10am and create their very own felted ornament for the holidays.

The program will start with a brief presentation with speaker, Mary Bischoff. She will follow that up with a fun and relaxing activity of felting your very own cardinal ornament. This is a free program with no registration, or materials necessary.

The yearlong series, Creative Coffee Chats, is aimed at combating adult social isolation & loneliness in our communities. WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats will offer monthly brief presentations--designed to be fun & informative—immediately followed by an engaging hands-on component and light refreshments.
This project was funded in part by the Initiative Foundation, a regional foundation. For more details about WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats and how to participate or contribute, please visit www.wrighthistory.org.

The Wright County Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to serving our community, invites all adults (18+) to join them on Thursday, November 14th at 10am and create their very own felted ornament for the holidays.

The program will start with a brief presentation with speaker, Mary Bischoff. She will follow that up with a fun and relaxing activity of felting your very own cardinal ornament. This is a free program with no registration, or materials necessary.

The yearlong series, Creative Coffee Chats, is aimed at combating adult social isolation & loneliness in our communities. WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats will offer monthly brief presentations--designed to be fun & informative—immediately followed by an engaging hands-on component and light refreshments.
This project was funded in part by the Initiative Foundation, a regional foundation. For more details about WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats and how to participate or contribute, please visit www.wrighthistory.org.

In collaboration with the Buffalo Public Library, we will host author: Frank Weber and his new book titled Scandal of Vandals. This book is the true story of a Minnesota attorney who was accused of hiring a hitman to kill his wife. Weber is a forensic psychologist specializing in homicide, sexual assault and domestic abuse cases. He uses his unique understanding of how predators think, knowledge of victim trauma and expert testimony in writing his true crime thrillers.

Join us at WCHS with moderator and paranormal investigator, Theresa Pierce to chat about our very own ghostly experiences. This is a free program with refreshments and a safe space for haunting conversations.

Join the Wright County Historical Society and Sue Edwards, aka The Barn Quilt Lady, in the creation of your very own Barn Quilt.

Supply Cost: $80

Call, or email to register.

Last year, Theresa Pierce gave us three stories of local haunted locations. This year, she’s back with a whole new set of stories and history of the paranormal here in Wright County. Please join us for this free spooktacular program.

The Wright County Historical Society, a 501c3 nonprofit organization committed to serving our community, invites all adults (18+) to join them on Saturday, October 26 at 10am for some Barn Quilt education, conversation, and colorization.

The program will start with a brief presentation by our very own Barn Quilt Lady, Sue Edwards. Followed by a fun and relaxing color activity with your own barn quilt. This is a free program with no registration, or materials necessary.

The yearlong series, Creative Coffee Chats, is aimed at combating adult social isolation & loneliness in our communities. WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats will offer monthly brief presentations--designed to be fun & informative—immediately followed by an engaging hands-on component and light refreshments.
This project was funded in part by the Initiative Foundation, a regional foundation. For more details about WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats and how to participate or contribute, please visit www.wrighthistory.org.

Minnesota is fortunate to have several Barn Quilt Trails. Pieces of art that adorn the side of barns and buildings throughout the state are set up to not only pay homage to heritage or interests, but to bring people into an area. Instructor Jay Grammond will lead you around the state to give you a sampling of what is out there in the hope that you will create your own road trip! No registration required, for all ages.

This program was made possible with Arts & Cultural Heritage Funds from Minnesota's Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. And in collaboration with the Buffalo Public Library.

The Wright County Historical Society invites you to join us on Saturday, September 28 at 10am for, ‘Fun & Games’! The program will include a brief presentation on relationship-building through gameplay, followed by the presenter sharing three easy & fun card games. Each attendee will receive two decks of cards for their own use! This is for adults (18+) only.

RSVP’s to 763-682-7323 not required but greatly appreciated so we can be assured of having enough materials on hand for everyone.

The yearlong series, Creative Coffee Chats, is aimed at combating adult social isolation & loneliness in our communities. WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats will offer monthly brief presentations--designed to be fun & informative—immediately followed by an engaging hands-on component and light refreshments.

This project was funded in part by the Initiative Foundation, a regional foundation. For more details about WCHS’s Creative Coffee Chats and how to participate or contribute, please visit www.wrighthistory.org.

Come climb into and learn about cool trucks like a fire truck, loader, dump truck, and even WCHS’ Stagecoach! A wide variety of local trucks and their operators will fill the Buffalo Library parking lot. We will have plenty of activities including a story stroll and story time.

Learn about 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten and other early literacy programs! Snacks will be available for purchase.

Offered in collaboration with Buffalo ECFE, Buffalo Community Center, City of Buffalo, Wright County Historical Society, and Buffalo Public Library.

Exciting times at the Wright County Fair!

Discover the stories and tunes of first-generation Swedish immigrant musicians Hol-Britta and Anna, traditional bagpipers from Dalarna, Sweden, who immigrated to Cokato, Wright County, Minnesota, in the late 1800s. Renee Vaughan, and Laura MacKenzie will perform traditional tunes from Hol-Britta and Anna's homeland after a brief presentation in the Welker Schoolhouse.

Enjoy an afternoon of music and history, honoring the melodies that continue to resonate across generations.