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Preserving and sharing area history since 1956

The Mille Lacs County Historical Society is located in the historic  Princeton Minnesota Great Northern Railway depot.

Preserving and sharing area history since 1956

The Mille Lacs County Historical Society is located in the historic  Princeton Minnesota Great Northern Railway depot.

Welcome

Thank you for visiting our website. 

There's much to see here. 

We are currently open only on 

Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

For research assistance during this time, 

call the Depot office at (763) 389-1296, 

Judy at 612.309.4622 or the 

leave a message on the MLCHS Facebook page.

 We are an all volunteer,

 IRS-approved 501(c)(3) non profit organization.     

We are currently open on Wednesdays and Fridays                     from 10 am to 2 pm.   

or by appointment Contact Barry Schreiber (763) 607-3195 

PIONEER SCHOOL SUMMER 2026

Pioneer School sessions for Summer 2026 are posted to the Princeton Community Education Summer Classes.   Three sessions are planned.  

Mon-Fri, June 22-26, 9am-1pm

Mon-Fri, July 13-17, 9am-1pm

Mon-Fri, July 20-24, 9am-1pm 


Register online:  www.isd477.arux.app

or Register by Phone:  (763) 389-6198

or Register in Person at the Family Center, 

706 1st St, during Office hours


Thrill your child by traveling back in time to experience real learning in a one-room schoolhouse as it would have been taught (without electronics) in the 1880s.  Grades K-6 are taught together in this one room school house at the Princeton Great Northern Railway Depot. 

  Spelling bees, square dancing, outdoor games, simple crafts and more will also be featured in hours of fun in and around the Pioneer School building.   There will be a School Exhibition on Friday for family and friends to attend and enjoy.  Bring a packed lunch and water bottle.     Kids may dress in pioneer style clothing if they choose.  For questions, call Barry Schreiber at 763-607-3195.

Join us in viewing "Held in MN" Aug. 20, 2025

In case you missed it, here is a video link to the PBS documentary, as seen on youtube;  https://youtu.be/l2v0BPouCTc?si=rDiHXb-_-6nfxEeZ 

Special Exhibit will be closing August 2026

"Potatoes, Peat and Prisoners of War"

This guided show features photos, artifacts and a new video about the rise and fall of the potato business in the Princeton area.  The visit of 150 Italian Prisoners of War in 1943 to help with the potato harvest is highlighted. 

 

The Potatoes show will be given by appointment.  

 Call Barry at 763.607.3195 to schedule.   A $10 donation is requested.  

visit our new HO scale train layout exhibit

visit our new HO scale train layout exhibit

visit our new HO scale train layout exhibit

visit our new HO scale train layout exhibit

visit our new HO scale train layout exhibit

visit our new HO scale train layout exhibit

New HO scale train layout exhibit, featuring the railroad from Elk River to Milaca in the 1900s


    Great Northern Railway Historical Society visits the Depot.

    Brickton

                       The Brickton Monument Expansion is now completed!   Stop by 3 miles north of Princeton on Highway 169 (east side) and see the latest news about our favorite "ghost town"!  

    Check out this video, the history of Brickton, which aired on "So Minnesota". 


    The 1951 Films of the Princeton Boys Leaving for Korea Are Now Available On The Internet

       We are pleased to report that the project to digitize the 2600 feet of 1951  16 mm films of the Princeton "boys" taken by Charlie Henschel has been completed.  The films are now available world wide 24 / 7 at the Minnesota Digital Library:  https://collection.mndigital.org/catalog?utf8=%E2%9C%93&facet.sort=index&search_field=all_fields&q=henschel  

    Thanks to the visionaries who took these films, showed them in the Strand Theater week by week in 1951, the family that preserved the films for 70 years and to the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for supporting the work of the Minnesota Digital Library to make unique records of Minnesota life available to all.                

    Check out this video that aired on "So Minnesota" about the 1951 films. 

    Railroad Depots

    The Last Stop: Railroad Depots…

      Multiple railroads have served the state of Minnesota. And with the rail lines came the depots needed to support the railroads and the communities where they were built. But times have change and they are no longer needed. This documentary reveals their history and what has become of them.     The Princeton Depot, a National Register historic site, is one of many featured.  

     Lakeland PBS has put together this documentary about railroad depots in Central Minnesota — both those left standing and those long gone. 

    Click on this link to watch;

    https://lptv.org/local-show/the-last-stop-railroad-depots-of-minnesota/

    Princeton Historic Home Walking Tour

    Connect With Us, check out our Facebook Page

    Mille Lacs County Historical Society

    Mille Lacs County Historical Society 101 10th Ave., So., Princeton MN 55371, Office message phone (763) 389-1296

    or call Barry Schreiber at (763) 607-3195

    Copyright © 2020 Mille Lacs County Historical Society - All Rights Reserved.

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