HISTORICAL society
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nterested in local history? Visit the Douglas County Historical Society and take a guided tour of the famous Knute Nelson house, home of one of Alexandria’s most famous residents. Nelson, who served the people of Minnesota in public office for more than 50 years, was elected to the Minnesota Legislature, and served two terms in the U.S. Congress before becoming the state’s first foreign-born governor. He then served in the U.S. Senate for 28 years. Nelson claimed a homestead in Alexandria in 1871 and built a small house on the property in 1874. As his political career progressed, he made additions to the house, adding a formal living room and large bedroom in 1900 and a dining room and kitchen on the main floor and four more bedrooms on the second story in 1915.
Nelson died in 1923. His will stated that following the death of his daughter, Ida, the house was to be given to the Norwegian Lutheran Church as a “home for the aged.” It served in that capacity for 38 years. In 1978, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On October 1, 1987, the “Knute Nelson House” became the headquarters of the Douglas County Historical Society. The Douglas County Historical Society is located at 1219 Nokomis St. in Alexandria. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., guided house tours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call (320) 762-0382, email historic@dchsmn.org or visit www.dchsmn.org.
The Douglas County Historical Society remains closed to the public at this time. They are happy to take research requests via email at historic@dchsmn.org. Be sure to visit the Douglas County Historical Society website at www.dchsmn.org or its Facebook page for the most recent information on its schedule.
26 August/September 2020 • Vacationer
THE DOUGLAS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY was organized in 1976 to discover, preserve and disseminate the history of the county and its people.
RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC include a research library with church, school, cemetery and family history files, and microfilm of census records and area newspapers dating back to 1875. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INCLUDE slide shows of each town in the county, oral history, interviews, a photo collection, materials for identification of significant buildings and sites in Douglas County, a vintage clothing and uniform collection, and county history books.
