{{Short description|Museum in Mankato, Minnesota}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox museum | name = Blue Earth County History Center | logo = File:Blue-earth-county-historical-society-logo.jpg | logo_upright = 0.8 | image = File:Blue Earth County History Center and Museum SW.jpg | image_size = | caption = Entrance | alt = | map_type = | map_relief = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_dot_label = | coordinates = {{coord|44.1608|-94.0020|type:landmark_region:US-MN|display=inline,title}} | established = {{Start date|1988|df=y}} | location = 424 Warren Street, [[Mankato, Minnesota]], United States | type = Local History | accreditation = | executive_director = Jessica Potter | website = [https://blueearthcountyhistory.com/ blueearthcountyhistory.com] }}
The '''Blue Earth County History Center''' is a museum library and archives owned and operated by the Blue Earth County Historical Society. It is a repository of photographs, printed materials and artifacts related to the history of the south central Minnesota county of [[Blue Earth County, Minnesota|Blue Earth]]. The History Center offers interactive exhibits for children, traditional exhibits, and the Marian Anderson Art Gallery.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Blue Earth County History Center and Museum |url=https://www.mankatolife.com/attractions/blue-earth-county-history-center/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=MankatoLIFE |language=en-US}}</ref> A research center is accessible for researchers and genealogists, providing resources such as a comprehensive obituary index, cemetery transcriptions, subject and surname files, and microfilmed newspapers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nonprofit Organizations {{!}} Minnesota River Basin Data Center |url=https://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/nonprofit-organizations |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=mrbdc.mnsu.edu}}</ref>
==Blue Earth County Historical Society== The History Center functions as the current headquarters of the non-profit organization established in 1901 and is one of the oldest historical societies in Minnesota.<ref name=":0" /> It is dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Blue Earth County's history.
In 1938, BECHS acquired the [[Rensselaer D. Hubbard House|R.D. Hubbard House]] with funding from a neighbor, Judge Loren Cray, to establish a permanent museum location.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Frisch |first=Carlienne A. |date=2020-12-07 |title=BECHS: Sharing History in New Ways |url=https://www.mankatolife.com/bechs-sharing-history-in-new-ways/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=MankatoLIFE |language=en-US}}</ref>
The City of Mankato took over ownership of the house, agreeing to maintain it for the Society to operate as a museum. As the Society expanded, it placed historical markers throughout the county and advocated for the inclusion of significant sites on the national register.
The Society expanded beyond the Hubbard House and in 1988 relocated to the former [[Newman Center|Catholic Newman Center]] at 424 Warren Street, sharing the space with another non-profit organization. Later the Society took over the entire building space.<ref name=":1" /> The upstairs hallway now serves as an additional space for showcasing photo exhibits. The reorganization of the upstairs exhibit complemented the new entrance created when the gift shop was relocated downstairs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lagerquist |first=Michael |date=2024-02-16 |title=BECHS Main Streets exhibit highlights towns' stories |url=https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/local_news/bechs-main-streets-exhibit-highlights-towns-stories/article_bdef86ee-ca81-11ee-85c3-23641345e69e.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Mankato Free Press |language=en}}</ref>
The Society's executive director, Jessica Potter, was hired in 2001 as their curator and archivist.<ref name=":1" />
==Programs== They offer in-person and virtual programs, a monthly Talking Ancestors Group, an annual Halloween 'Ghosts from the Past' event, and Historic pub crawls.<ref name=":1" />
==Gallery== <gallery> File:2022 Wikipedia Local History Edit-a-thon South-Central Minnesota-02.jpg|2022 Wikipedia Local History Edit-a-thon File:Blue Earth County History Center and Museum-Back entrance.jpg|Back entrance File:Blue Earth County History Center and Museum-interior.jpg|Interior space at front entrance File:Blue Earth County History Center and Museum-Meeting Room B.jpg|Meeting room </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
== See also ==
* [[List of museums in Minnesota]]
[[Category:County museums in Minnesota]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Blue Earth County, Minnesota]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Blue Earth County, Minnesota]] [[Category:1901 establishments in Minnesota]] [[Category:Historical societies in Minnesota]]