Renville County Historical Society

Preserving Renville County History Since 1940!

The Renville County Historical Society started in 1940. At that time the Historical Society would do displays at the County Courthouse. In the early 1950s, the Society's Board decided to put down its roots. The land was donated to the Society by William Buckley in Morton, Minnesota and the Society moved into two Norfolk Township schoolhouses.  One schoolhouse was the Main Museum and the other was put back to look like a country school.

As the organization began receiving more and more artifact donations the Museum grounds grew. The Main Museum, built-in 1989, is on the other side of Morton City Park. The Main Museum contains the Research Library, offices, storage, and many exhibit areas. To the east of the Main Museum are the two schoolhouses. One is still a schoolhouse and the other is used for exhibits. Behind the schoolhouses is the "Machine Shed" which contains agricultural equipment, tools, transportation equipment, and much more. South of the Main Museum in St. John's Church, built-in 1891 in Beaver Falls, moved to Olivia in 1909 and again in the 1980s and finally made its way home to the Museum grounds in 1997.  The Heritage Building, behind the church, protects the Lerud Log Cabin, stores the 1927 Dodge Sedan & 1914 Model T, and is used for events and exhibits.

Upcoming Projects for Renville County Historical Society: 

o  Reorganizing the Research Library adding new bookshelves & file cabinets

o  Reorganizing the two storage rooms in the Main Museum due to the 2 incidences of flooding (March 2019 and July 1, 2019).

o  Adding to the exhibits in the Red Schoolhouse  

o   Enlarge all the World War I panoramic photographs to identify them ($1000)

o   Renville County in the War: 1917, 1918, 1919 book updated with obituaries, tidbits from the 10 county newspapers, and more ($5,000)

o   Traveling exhibit for schools and libraries

           Exhibits in the Main Museum for 2024/2025

o   Featured town: 2024/2025 Hector, Minnesota, and will be taken to the 2025 Renville County Fair!

o   Featured Old Village: Beaver Falls

o   U.S.S. Renville Transport Ship featured in the movie "In Harms Way"

o   Morton Pink Granite Haupt Fountains History (continuous)

o   Seed Companies of Renville County

o   Temporary exhibit on Morton High School through February 2025.

o   Upcoming Exhibit on Catfish Derby Days May 2025 - August 1 2025 (will be taken to the 2025 Renville County Fair)

o   Upcoming Exhibit on Franklin High School! Save the Date for the 2025 Franklin All School Reunion on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Jackpot Junction!

Completed Projects in 2024

o   Installation of Big A$$ fan in Heritage Building

o   Indexing of the 1900 Courthouse Petition

o   Scanning and printing Morton School Newsletters

o   Scanning and printing Morton Reminders

o   Successful programs in May, July, August, and September

2024/2025 Goals

o   Develop additional programs to be held on the Museum Grounds

o   Develop additional outreach programs to be held at libraries, nursing homes, schools, etc. (contact Nicole for a list)

o   Fundraising events including a Membership Drive event to attract new members

o   Add additional schools to the fall and spring tours

5-year planning committee 2024-2029

o   Director is reviewing all the past 5 year plans, making recommendations to the planning committee and the committee will present ideas to the Historical Society board for approval.  

Key projects:  Walkways to all the buildings (getting an estimate); Air circulation in all the buildings ($10000); Fundraise Campaign to build a new museum building.