# Anoka County History Center > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Anoka_County_History_Center > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Anoka_County_History_Center.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County_History_Center > Source revision: 1356144812 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Museum in Anoka, Minnesota Anoka County History Center Entrance Established 1934 (1934) Location 2135 Third Ave N, Anoka, Minnesota 55303, United States Coordinates 45°11′59″N 93°23′16″W / 45.19969°N 93.38770°W / 45.19969; -93.38770 Type Local history Executive director Rebecca Ebnet-Desens Website 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](/source/Anoka_County%2C_Minnesota). Located in downtown [Anoka](/source/Anoka%2C_Minnesota), 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](/source/Colonial_Hall_and_Masonic_Lodge_No._30) they moved to their current location, the old city library building in the city of Anoka 20 years ago.[*[when?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Dates_and_numbers#Chronological_items)*][1][2] ## Anoka County Historical Society Established in 1934, the society has been preserving the history of Anoka County.[3][4] The current executive director is Rebecca Ebnet-Mavencamp who started in 2015.[5] ## 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 There is also a collection of unpublished books and articles featuring Anoka County Civil War soldiers, the history of [Fridley](/source/Fridley%2C_Minnesota), annotated history of [Circle Pines](/source/Circle_Pines%2C_Minnesota) and [Lexington](/source/Lexington%2C_Minnesota), early records of St. Genevieve's Church, cemetery indexes and maps and the history of the [Rum River](/source/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](/source/Works_Progress_Administration) sidewalk section; probate records; the entire print collection of the *Circulating Pines* newspapers; [Ho Chi Minh](/source/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.[3] In 2008, the Anoka County Historical Society had to undergo a "[de-accession](/source/Deaccessioning)" 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.[6] ## 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.[3] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Anoka County Historical Society | Minnesota Digital Library"](https://mndigital.org/about/contributing-organizations/anoka-county-historical-society). *mndigital.org*. Retrieved 2024-03-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Anoka County History Center and Museum"](https://theclio.com/entry/95133). *Clio*. Retrieved 2024-03-17. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_3-2) Kink, Julie (2015-03-24). ["Anoka County Historical Society archiving area past"](https://www.presspubs.com/quad/news/anoka-county-historical-society-archiving-area-past/article_eba4b3f8-d1b5-11e4-99ee-7332efc94186.html). *Press Publications*. Retrieved 2024-03-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Our Vision"](https://anokacountyhistory.org/our-vision). *Anoka County Historical Society*. Retrieved 2024-03-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Pratt, Anna. ["Meet Rebecca Ebnet-Mavencamp, new head of the Anoka County Historical Society"](https://www.startribune.com/meet-rebecca-ebnet-mavencamp-new-head-of-the-anoka-county-historical-society/305863131/). *Star Tribune*. Retrieved 2024-03-17. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Pratt, Anna. ["Todd Mahon changes historical societies, but not his love of the subject"](https://www.startribune.com/todd-mahon-changes-historical-societies-but-not-his-love-of-the-subject/293839531/). *Star Tribune*. Retrieved 2024-03-17. ## See also - [List of museums in Minnesota](/source/List_of_museums_in_Minnesota) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Anoka County History Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County_History_Center) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoka_County_History_Center?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.