Area Community Guide • March 2026
REGIONAL HISTORY PRESERVED BY SOCIETIES
Please note that the Chisago County Historical Society and North Chisago County Historical Society have merged and are all under Chisago County Historical Society.
CHISAGO COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Chisago County Historical Society collects and shares stories of Chisago County, as well preserving artifacts used by early pioneer settlers. CCHS also has historical displays in the Chisago County Courthouse that are changed throughout the year.
The society has an extensive collection of family history and genealogy books, community histories and documents, publications, photographs, and microfilmed copies of local newspapers. The CCHS office and the Helen McCann White History Research Library are located at 12795 Lake Blvd., in Lindstrom in the former Gordy ' s Cards & Gifts shop. Enter the General Store with old-fashioned candy, local products and Scandinavian gift items. In the museum you can check out the Ommen Pharmacy, a one-room school, an extensive collection of Chisago County memorabilia and other interesting displays.
The society has a second museum in Rush City( formerly the North Chisago County Historical Society), located at 350 South Elliot Ave., Rush City.
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Find the most current hours for the museum and research center on the web site. The new location has a small meeting area that can accommodate small groups of 10-12 people. The facility is available for use by school groups and other educational programs. Free on-street parking and WiFi access are available.
At the Chisago County Fair in Rush City visitors will find the large history exhibits building, open Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the fair and by appointment. The interior has a relocated pioneer log home where the Delmore family of Ireland first lived. Next to the society exhibit building is the Cheewin log lodge, the very first YMCA lodge built in Minnesota that was moved to the site from Chisago City.
CCHS volunteers are busy scanning documents, pictures and newspapers. The historical society’ s website contains a schedule of events, links to local history partners, and information about other county historical destinations. A growing number of online indexes help researchers discover their ties to family history within the society’ s collections.
To become a CCHS member, view the scope of research materials or make a contribution, contact the society at 651-257-5310 or visit its website: www. chisagocountyhistory. org.