HUBBARD COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM OPENS

Description

THE MUSEUM IS OPEN STARTING MAY 1, 2025. DAYS ARE THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY. HOURS ARE 11 AM TO 4 PM. REQUEST A TOUR OR DO SELF-GUIDED TOURS. 
Come visit this historic building and enjoy all the displays about Hubbard County history and its people. Located in the 1900 courthouse, after signing a lease in 1977 and some remodeling,   HCHS opened the doors in 1978 as the new historical museum. The interior remains much the same as it did 100 years ago. The walls have been repainted in the original rich green color and the tin ceiling is intact. The museum has a total of 8 vaults. There are four on each of 2  levels.  Names of the original courthouse offices still remain on the doors.
HERITAGE ROOM – The first white settlers came in 1879. Hubbard County was created February 26, 1883   and Park Rapids became the county seat. This room reflects the heritage of early residents of this area…beginning with Native Americans.
FARMING ROOM – People settled in this area to farm. There were 3 open prairies in Hubbard County ready for farming and people came to take up homesteads.
TROUT CREEK 1-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE – Everything in this room was in a school building south of Itasca State Park. When the building was moved to Lake George to become a gift shop, the furnishings were given to the museum. One teacher taught grades 1-8 in this room. She would come in each day to build a fire and pump water from an outside well to carry in. Teachers in the early days could not be married.
SETTLERS CABIN – This is a typical setting of the first home that early pioneers lived in. Children slept on mats that were placed under the bed during the day. Some cabins were fortunate to have a loft for sleeping quarters. Many houses had dirt floors made smooth and covered with scatter rugs. 
TOGGERY – Displays vintage clothing  worn by women and children of early Hubbard County residents. Old Family quilts are also on display.
THE IRA BENHAM RESEARCH CENTER -  Most all of the furniture in this room is from the old courthouse. Records of places & citizens; plat books; Hubbard history books; assortment of records held here.
MILITARY ROOM – Artifacts and history of Hubbard County residents who served in the military. The authentic 1915 Hochkiss machine gun was used in WWI.
GIFT SHOP -  Stop by and check out the gift shop. Books and mementos are here for the purchase.
 
BASEMENT FLOOR….DOOR NEAR MILITARY ROOM
REST ROOMS
KITCHEN  - The kitchen displays some of the old washing machines from years gone by.
BOTTLE COLLECTION:  Early bottles of Hubbard County.
1970S & 1980S LOBBY DISPLAY  + ORGANIZATION DISPLAYS
GRACE’S SCHOOL ROOM -  Hubbard County school memories. Yearbooks, uniforms, pins, letterman letters, etc.
RESORT ROOM -  Contains artifacts from resort life. Fuller’s Tackle Shop corner. Hubbard County early businesses corner.
FRED FULTON DISPLAY – In the lobby. Fred was known as “The Rochester Plasterer” in Heavyweight Boxing in 1918. He retired and purchased a resort out on Fish Hook Lake called White City.
CAMPFIRE GIRLS  - uniforms worn by Hubbard county residents are on display.
COMMUNICATIONS ROOM -  Antique telephone board; early phones; early cameras; early typewriters. Itasca Mantrap Electric corner display.
MEDICAL ROOM -  Artifacts and information about Hubbard County doctors, hospitals, pharmacies are displayed here.
LOGGING ROOM -  Artifacts and history of Hubbard County logging are on display here. A hand carved diorama shows a typical logging camp. Akeley was the location for the Red River Logging business established in 1884. In 1913 the business moved to Westwood California taking many Akeley residents with it. The Park Rapids Logging Company  moved to Idaho about 1911.
 
WE CLOSE SEPTEMBER 27, 2025.