exhibits

Admission to the Museum
Free for members. For non-members:
$10 for families of 4+
$5.00 for adults
$2.00 for students K-12
$2.00 per person for groups of 6+
$1.00 per person for groups of 20+ or student field trips

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Indoor Exhibits

Exhibits in the main exhibit hall are available for viewing year-round Wednesdays - Fridays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, Saturdays 9:00am - 4:00pm, and Other Days by appointment.

Archaeology: This exhibit includes our display of stone tools and projectile points, as well as some other Native American artifacts and history, all from Kanabec County and our surrounding Minnesota area!
Logging in Kanabec County: Check out this recently revamped display! Logging was the first industry of the Kanabec County and it is what first brought people to this region to log the white pine forests. A maps marks the locations of the many logging camps in our county. Also includes many artifacts from the Camp Creek logging camp. Pick up brochures on camp cooking, camp tools and the route of the O'neal brothers logging rail road. (This is a long term exhibit)
Kanabec County Medicine: One of KHC's newest exhibits! This hands-on and child-friendly exhibit displays medical equipment used in the early 1900's. From machines and tools to medicines, this display showcases and provides information on what doctors used to diagnose and treat patients in the early 20th century. This display includes photographs, wheelchairs, pill bottles, medicinal recipes, doctors' bags and boxes, and more, with special focus exhibits on the history of Hemp and Dr. C. S. Bossert, one of Kanabec County's most beloved and influential doctors. Interactive games tie into aspects of the display, and guests are encouraged to use the provided hand sanitizer before and after interacting!
Ojibwe Winter Camp, The Advent of the European Trader: This exhibit features a half-size wig wam built mainly of materials found on site along the Snake River. The exhibit includes items that the Ojibwe would have gotten through trade with the early European traders. Also included in the this exhibit is dried plants collected along the Kanabec History Center hiking trails that would have been used by the Native Americans. (This is a long term exhibit)
- This exhibit is under construction! The Native American Display is currently being redone and updated by volunteers!
1906 Kitchen: This exhibit is set up to show what a 1906 farm kitchen would have looked with wood stove cook stove. There are many kitchen "gadgets" of the day on display. You can check out pages of the Sears catalog to see how many of the items featured could have been ordered from the "wish book."
You Have The World At Your Fingertips: This hands-on communications display, “You Have the World at Your Fingertips,” gives children and adults a hands-on technology friendly experience! The display highlights the evolution of phone systems, photography, and video recording, and sharing of these types of communication. Everything in the display, from the switchboard to the maps, you now carry in your phone. Bring your QR-friendly device and download a free QR reader to watch one or all of the related videos containing historic information; for example: “From Telegraph to Telephone”, “Party line information,” and old commercials that now seem comical. Sit in the comfy chair for two, and enjoy playing Pac-Man on the Atari, or check out the typewriter!
NEW - Founding of Kanabec County: This exhibit contains information and artifacts about the beginnings of Kanabec County and how the community has evolved! Our Founding display covers everything from every-day-life in the era to the specific townships, towns, businesses, and fascinating people who founded the organizations that make up Kanabec County--and how they did it!

Top Row, from Left to Right: Sneak peaks at our Logging Exhibit, Medical Exhibit, and Ojibwe Winter Camp Exhibit.
Bottom Row, from Left to Right: 1906 Kitchen Exhibit, Founding of Kanabec County Exhibit, and Communications Exhibit!

Outdoor Exhibits

The Kanabec History Center has some historic buildings, a farm exhibit building and other out door exhibits that are open during the spring and summer from April to October each year.

Coin School Dist. 8, formerly Calhoun: Closed to the Public. The last rural school to be closed in the county; in 1970 it merged with the Mora school district. In 1995 it was moved to the History Center grounds where it hosts events and is available for rental.
Webster School Building Dist. 14: Built in 1889 the 16 x 20 foot structure was the first Comfort Township Webster School. This log building was later replaced with a brick school building and the log building served as the home for the teacher. The building was donated to the Kanabec History Center by Marvin Dresler and moved here in 1981.

Whittier School Dist. 41 formerly Dist. 21: The school district was established in 1904. The school closed in 1963. The building was moved to the Kanabec History Center grounds in 1987. It is currently used for Old Tyme School classes each summer. See the Old Tyme Country School page for more information and how to register for these classes.

1904 Fire Hall Building: The 1904 fire hall replica building is an exact replica of the first Mora Fire Hall. Inside you will find the original hose cart from the original fire hall and newspaper clippings & photos of some of the fires the first volunteer firemen were called out to fight. This exhibit is visible but not currently open to indoor tours.
Potato Farming in Kanabec County: Features equipment that was used in planting, harvesting etc. for the potato farming industry in our county.
Inside the Pole Building: Early KC, Farming, and Storefront Exhibits: Inside the Pole Building, we have displayed equipment and tools used by Kanabec County farmers and early residents in their every day lives! We have also reconstructed Storefronts of a dentist's office, department store, and blacksmith's shop. These are available for guests to explore and experience first-hand. Additionally in the Pole Building we have displays of machines and tools used in the late 1800's and early 1900's for farming and daily life.
1950's Caboose: Our caboose was given to the History Center by the City of Mora in order to preserve it after the line was abandoned. After bringing her grandchildren to the History Center and finding they could not get inside (and having an interest in trains), Lucille Schultz gave a donation to the History Center and took on the job of renovating it. The caboose is now renovated and accessible inside and out, and has information and videos inside for those interested. Visitors need only ask the staff to open the doors!

Our front yard picnic tables, hiking trails, and labyrinth are open for public use free of charge.

The above buildings are open for viewing April through October.
Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00am - 4:00pm on weekdays & 9:00am - 4:00pm on Saturdays.