The Cook County Historical Society is pleased to announce that the recent tax bill signed by Governor Walz earlier this week included $700,000 for the Cook County Historical Society for restoration of the following Historic Cook County sites: the Cook County History Museum; the Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery; the Bally Blacksmith Shop; the St. Francis Xavier Church, also known... READ MORE >
Thanks to Wild Country and Sawtooth Mountain Maple Syrup Companies of Lutsen, the history museum in Grand Marais has a new featured exhibit. A couple of years back, Jim Cordes brought to us the idea of asking the community to share their own personal collections. After recent updates to our exhibits, we created a dedicated exhibit space and asked Jim... READ MORE >
The first Catholic Church to be built in the Grand Marais area, St. Francis Xavier Church, has stood in the same spot looking out over Lake Superior since 1895. Known to many at the time as the “Chippewa Church”, it served as the only Catholic parish from the time it was built in 1895 through 1916, when a second Catholic... READ MORE >
There is no doubt that Cook County possesses a rich cultural landscape which provides a distinctive sense of place and sets it apart from all other areas. As people came to the area they adapted and changed, and the landscape changed in turn. Our predecessors in this region interacted with the physical environment and created landscapes that functioned for them... READ MORE >
The Cook County Historical Society will be hosting an open house and dedication ceremony at the Bally Blacksmith Shop on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with a dedication held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The shops will be open for touring, blacksmithing demonstrations will be in the yard, and we will be dedicating the blacksmith... READ MORE >
Woven into the history of Cook County are stories of communities, organizations, and people collectively coming together – revealing strength through generosity, sacrifice, and cooperation. This collective spirit both grew out of and empowered communities as people looked out for one another. The first inhabitants of this area, the Anishinaabe people, lived cooperatively with the land and with each other.... READ MORE >
People shape the history of Cook County. Our biggest asset is our community— so the safety of our patrons, volunteers, supporters, and staff is our priority. Throughout this health emergency, we are still committed to the collection, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the history of Cook County. With our mission guiding our work, we wanted to share the latest... READ MORE >
