History Center of Olmsted County

Explore the historic outbuildings and gardens of the History Center!

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History Center of Olmsted County

Rochester, Minnesota 55902, United States

Created By: History Center of Olmsted County

Tour Information

The History Center of Olmsted County has been located on these grounds since 1973. This site features many historical buildings, beautiful gardens, a museum and a wonderful archive.

This tour provides insight into the historic buildings and grounds of the site!


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What You'll See on the Tour

The Olmsted County Historical Society was established in 1926 by Burt Eaton with the intention of collecting and preserving the history of Olmsted County. The History Center was established on its current property in 1973. What had once be... Read more
Constructed in the mid 19th century and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the George Stoppel Farmstead has stood largely unchanged for over 150 years. Built by German immigrants George and Maria Stoppel, each of the core ... Read more
Built by George Stoppel in the 1860s, this barn is often classified as a "Pennsylvania Barn" - barns built into earthen banks and characterized by their large size. The barn has wide openings at both ends, allowing for easy passage of peopl... Read more
According to family lore, George, Maria, and their family spent their first Minnesota winter in this carved-out cave into the hillside. The cave extends deep into the hillside and has two adjoining "rooms" on either side of the main tunnel... Read more
Roughly 30 feet behind the farm house stands the two-story multi-use building that the History Center calls The Smoke House. Really, though, it is much more. Built into the side of the hill, the bottom floor features a privy, a small worksh... Read more
This limestone farmhouse built by George Stoppel has stood largely unchanged for the last century. If you look carefully at the sides of the home, you can see a diagonal mark in the architecture which indicates the original roofline of the ... Read more
In 1885, the Hadley Valley Schoolhouse was built in the township of Haverhill 3 miles NE of Rochester. When the school was constructed, it cost around $800 (around $12,000 in today's dollars). The schoolhouse was in operation until 1957, bu... Read more
These beautiful gardens are tended by the U of M extension. Our medicinal garden showcases a variety of plants and herbs that would have been grown on farms to treat ailments from headaches to nausea and more.
This log home was built by an early Rochester settler, William Dee. Irish immigrant William and his wife Bridget built this cabin in 1862. Their first child was born in the cabin the night they first occupied it. The cabin is made using pop... Read more
Schmitt Field is home of the Roosters Base Ball club, an 1860s rules team that aims to bring history to life through classic Base Ball! 1860s rules differ wildly from the modern game. Amongst the bigger differences are the fact that pitcher... Read more
This beautiful garden space is tended by the Rochester Garden Club and serves as a relaxing space to take in a bit of natural beauty next to a well mainteined garden and fountain area. 

 

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