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Tuesday 10am - 4pm Wednesday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm

Benton County Historical Society & Museum

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Benton County Historical Society & Museum

Benton County Historical Society & Museum- Preserving the past for the present and the future

06/22/2026

For more than 150 years, this building has stood as a witness to the strength, compassion, and resilience of our community.

Built in 1873 by a local quarryman, this historic granite building has carried the stories of generations. Just 13 years after it was built, the community faced the devastation of the 1886 cyclone. In the aftermath of the disaster, this building opened its doors as a makeshift hospital, providing care and shelter for those who were wounded.

In the 1940s, the building began another chapter of service as a care facility, becoming a place of comfort, support, and dignity for community members until 2011.

Today, it is home to the Benton County Historical Society & Museum, a place dedicated to preserving the stories, artifacts, and memories that connect us to the people who came before us.

But history is more than the walls that surround us. History is the resilience of a community that comes together in times of hardship, cares for its neighbors, and creates spaces where people can gather, learn, and connect.

Now, we are preparing for the next chapter of this historic building. Our fundraiser will help support important improvements, including a new elevator to make our museum more accessible and welcoming to everyone, as well as a new community room, a gathering space for all.

A place where our community can come together for programs, events, learning opportunities, celebrations, and the continued sharing of our stories.

For over 150 years, this building has adapted to the needs of the people around it. With your support, it will continue serving our community for generations to come.

Join us as we celebrate our past, invest in our future, and help preserve the legacy of resilience that has shaped Benton County. Together, we can ensure this place remains a home for history, connection, and community.

You can purchase tickets on our website: https://mnbentonhistory.org/events.html
Or stop in the museum, say hello, and grab a ticket! We are located at 202 2nd Ave, S. Sauk Rapids, MN 56379. We are open Tuesdays-Friday 10am-4pm.

06/20/2026

The Benton County Historical Society & Museum would like to take a moment to reflect on and honor the legacy of Annette Legatt. Annette and her husband, Harold, were among the early supporters of the Society and Museum. Through their countless hours of dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment, they helped lay the foundation for the organization we know today.

Rest in peace. Your BCHS "legattcy" lives on.

From legacy .com
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00AM on Monday, June 22, 2026 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice for Annette Legatt, 90 of St. Joseph and formerly of Rice who passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at Arlington Place in St. Joseph. Rev. Greg Paffel will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 9-10:45AM on Monday at the church in Rice. Arrangements are entrusted to the Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in St. Cloud.

Annette was born January 28, 1936 in St. Cloud to Victor & Alvina (Bohlsen) Omann. She married Harold A. Legatt on November 23, 1953 at St. Stephen’s Catholic in St. Stephen. Annette worked as the Postal Clerk at the Rice Post Office for many years until her retirement. She is a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rice and was active in the Christian Women. She is also a member of the St. Stephen Lions Club, Rice American Legion Auxiliary and the Benton County Historical Society. Annette liked to spend time walking, riding her bike and playing cards, she fried fish for the St. Stephen Lions fish fry for over 40 years. She enjoyed cooking and baking, especially Christmas cookies with her grandkids.

She is survived by her children, Susan Janski of Waite Park; Jerry (Sandra) Legatt of Rice; Mary Jo Legatt of St. Cloud; Ray (Lu) Legatt of Rice; Steve (Melissa) Legatt of Rice; siblings, Arlene Sauer of Sartell; Thomas Omann of Little Falls; Donald Omann of Rice; Rodney Omann of Rice; Donna Johannes of Holdingford; 12 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband of 70 years, Harold in 2024, and sister, Janice Brundage.

The family extends its deepest gratitude to the compassionate caregivers of Moments Hospice and Arlington Place for exceptional care, comfort, dignity, and kindness they provided. Our family will be forever grateful.

Memorials are preferred to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

06/19/2026

Lacey Fontaine, and Jim Maurice from WJON, discussed a house of ill repute that operated in East St. Cloud around 1920. To listen or read about this story go to the WJON site.

Image from freepik .com

06/18/2026

June 19th, the day in 1865 when news of emancipation finally reached enslaved African Americans in Texas, more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history and is recognized as a federal holiday honoring freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

At the Benton County Historical Society, we believe it is important to remember and share the stories that have shaped our nation. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom has not always been experienced equally or immediately, and it encourages us to reflect on both the progress made and the work that continues.

Today, we honor the generations who endured slavery, celebrate the achievements and contributions of African Americans, and recognize the importance of preserving these stories for future generations.

The museum will be closed for Juneteenth as it is for all federally recognized holidays.

photo from free-calendars-printable .com

06/17/2026

We are hosting a fundraising event on September 27, 2026 at the Northern Hollow Winery in Foley.

We would love to meet and greet all the wonderful people who are part of our Facebook community.

Only 100 tickets are available.

Please order online at mnbentonhistory.org.

If you have questions or need help ordering tickets please call the museum Tuesday-Friday from 10-4. Our phone number is 320-253-9614. Or feel free to stop in during our business hours.

06/15/2026

Dennis Molitor was one of our Meet the People Living Legend interviews last fall. His historical walks are informative and fun. Check it out!

Please check out the Sartell Historical Society on Facebook to see the other fun things they are involved in.

06/10/2026

Foley Harness Shop.

If you have any information on it please share it with the rest of us. 😊

06/08/2026

I drove by the old paper mill yesterday. It looked like all the sloughs were closed. If that is true that is the first time I ever remember seeing that.

Here is an earlier view. Year unknown. Any guesses?

06/03/2026

OK kids of yesteryear. School is finally out for the summer. Time to get some new tunes and take the newest "streaming services" to your friend's house or head to the beach for some fun in the sun.

I misplaced the exact date of this ad but it was in the St. Cloud Times in May 1976.

What concerts did you attend? Who was your favorite band or singer?

06/01/2026

The Ronneby Review 16 Sep 1898

Address

202 2nd Avenue So
Sauk Rapids, MN
56379

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10am - 4pm
Wednesday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

(320) 253-9614

Website

http://mnbentonhistory.org/

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