The Faribault County Historical Society is a non-profit organization whose sole mission is to collect, preserve and disseminate the history of Faribault County. A Board of Directors, consisting of twelve elected members from throughout the county, meet monthly to make decisions regarding the care and use of the property they are responsible for located throughout Blue Earth, plan fundraisers, and
accept recent donations, etc. Officers include President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. These six men and six women work tirelessly to keep each building in tip-top shape, the antique machinery maintained, the History Lane in the Faribault County Fairgrounds well kept, along with attending to the office needs, requests for information or building use, keeping records of each donated item and displaying it all for the public to view and enjoy. As there are no salaries paid to board members or spouses who assist in the work, this becomes a community effort —— a community of volunteers. Moneys received from fundraising, private gifts, memorials, membership dues, support from Faribault County, Township Boards and many other support groups help the Historical Society meet their annual budget needs of over $70,000. FCHS offers assistance with family and cemetery/burial records as well as making arrangements for tours of the museums when possible. Many school groups have toured the buildings – our hope is that this would develop in them an interest in the history and background of his or her extended family. The collection of family genealogies kept at the Wakefield House is ever growing. The burial records of the 42 cemeteries in Faribault County can be researched on our website: www.fchistorical.org. Our database is being continually updated as new records from around the county are shared.
