{{Short description|Museum in Anoka, Minnesota}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox museum | name = Anoka County History Center | logo = Anoka County Historical Society logo.jpg | logo_upright = 0.8 | image = Anoka County History Center & Library.jpg | image_size = | caption = Entrance | alt = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_dot_label = | coordinates = {{coord|45.19969|N|93.38770|W|display=inline,title}} | established = {{Start date|1934|df=y}} | location = 2135 Third Ave N, [[Anoka, Minnesota]] 55303, United States | type = Local history | accreditation = | executive_director = Rebecca Ebnet-Desens | website = [https://anokacountyhistory.org anokacountyhistory.org] }}
The '''Anoka County History Center''' is a museum affiliated with the Anoka County Library system and operated by the Anoka County Historical Society that showcases the history of [[Anoka County, Minnesota]]. Located in downtown [[Anoka, Minnesota|Anoka]], surrounded by historic buildings and riverways, the History Center features a 3,000-square-foot exhibit gallery that tells the stories of the 21 communities that make up Anoka County. Previously located in [[Colonial Hall and Masonic Lodge No. 30|Colonial Hall]] they moved to their current location, the old city library building in the city of Anoka 20 years ago.{{when|date=March 2024}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Anoka County Historical Society {{!}} Minnesota Digital Library |url=https://mndigital.org/about/contributing-organizations/anoka-county-historical-society |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=mndigital.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Anoka County History Center and Museum |url=https://theclio.com/entry/95133 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Clio |language=en}}</ref>
== Anoka County Historical Society == Established in 1934, the society has been preserving the history of Anoka County.<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Vision |url=https://anokacountyhistory.org/our-vision |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Anoka County Historical Society |language=en-US}}</ref> The current executive director is Rebecca Ebnet-Mavencamp who started in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pratt|first=Anna |title=Meet Rebecca Ebnet-Mavencamp, new head of the Anoka County Historical Society |url=https://www.startribune.com/meet-rebecca-ebnet-mavencamp-new-head-of-the-anoka-county-historical-society/305863131/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
== Collections == The oral history collection includes more than 250 interviews on a variety of topics from WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, including memories of Anoka County residents. There is also a collection of unpublished books and articles featuring Anoka County Civil War soldiers, the history of [[Fridley, Minnesota|Fridley]], annotated history of [[Circle Pines, Minnesota|Circle Pines]] and [[Lexington, Minnesota|Lexington]], early records of St. Genevieve's Church, cemetery indexes and maps and the history of the [[Rum River]]. Samples from the collection range from a kayak that set a world record to furniture and clothing from as far back as the 1860s; a [[Works Progress Administration]] sidewalk section; probate records; the entire print collection of the ''Circulating Pines'' newspapers; [[Ho Chi Minh]] sandals from a Vietnam veteran; a watch fob made from a piece of a little girl's skull; and a silver service given as a wedding gift in 1887.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kink |first=Julie |date=2015-03-24 |title=Anoka County Historical Society archiving area past |url=https://www.presspubs.com/quad/news/anoka-county-historical-society-archiving-area-past/article_eba4b3f8-d1b5-11e4-99ee-7332efc94186.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Press Publications |language=en}}</ref>
In 2008, the Anoka County Historical Society had to undergo a "[[Deaccessioning|de-accession]]" process, or letting go of objects. "We took the opportunity to educate our members about what we want and don't," former Todd Mahon said.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pratt |first=Anna |title=Todd Mahon changes historical societies, but not his love of the subject |url=https://www.startribune.com/todd-mahon-changes-historical-societies-but-not-his-love-of-the-subject/293839531/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>
== Programs == The Society also conduct educational programming, tours, and special events throughout the year. Through its "Museum in a Box" program, the Society helps Anoka County teachers teach the local history of the county to students. Boxes contain several hands-on artifacts from their collections relating to a particular topic, providing children direct experience with the past. Information cards about each artifact help students understand why the objects are important.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
== See also ==
* [[List of museums in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Anoka County, Minnesota]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Anoka County, Minnesota]] [[Category:1934 establishments in Minnesota]] [[Category:Historical societies in Minnesota]] [[Category:County museums in Minnesota]]