The Museum will be CLOSED Sept. 2nd- 5th

Historical Society and Museum

Who We Are

We are dedicated to preserving the unique history of Carlton County. We not only collect artifacts and remember important events, we also gather the countless individual stories left behind by our ancestors and neighbors. We are proud to serve Carlton County in the collection, preservation and dissemination of the history of the county.

We are always working on our museum displays, the barn calendars, the Carlton County Fair, and endless other projects to showcase the unique history of our area.

To stay up to date with our events please follow us on Facebook or check the events page on the top navigation bar.

If you would like to get involved, visit our Join Us or Volunteer page.

The Carlton County Historical Society (CCHS) was formed in 1949 by a group of interested citizens as a sub-committee of the Cloquet Rotary Club. It functioned as a volunteer organization for a number of years using makeshift spaces in Carlton. The Society found a home at the Garfield School in Cloquet in 1980 and had one part-time employee. In 1987 the Society was moved to a permanent location in the Shaw Memorial Building in Cloquet. The Society also owns several buildings on the Carlton County Fair Grounds in Barnum where outreach activities are held.

Learn more about CCHS History Here.

The CCHS Foundation was formed in 1988 to support the Carlton County Historical Society in its efforts to collect, preserve, and disseminate the history of Carlton County.

Each year the Carlton County Historical Society serves the citizens of Carlton County, former residents, and visitors to the area in a variety of ways.

History of the Shaw Memorial Library

The first Cloquet Public Library was built in 1902, before Cloquet was officially a city. George Stearns Shaw, one of the first lumber company owners in the area, never had a formal education; he educated himself and thus valued libraries. He served on the library committee for the town of Knife Falls, which in 1904 would become the City of Cloquet to ensure that residents of the area had access to books....

Meet Our Board Members

We asked our board members "Why is local history important to you?" Read their responses below!

Emily Swanson:

Board President and Ex- Officio Foundation Board Member.

"Albert Einstein made the case for local Historical Societies when he said 'Whoever is careless about the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters'. History matters."

Ted Lammi

"Local history matters to me because “Past is prologue.” The only way to know where you are going is to know where you have been. History to me is the most exciting drama because it really happened."

Marian Johnson

"You are a part of history. Learn from it, preserve it, and pass it on."

Cynthia Johnson

"I so enjoy exploring history including my own past, my family’s past, my friends’ past, plus playing the past at the log cabin during the Carlton County Fair."

Cynthia also serves on the Foundation Board

John Cavanaugh

"History answers the question 'why are things the way there are?' Today is built on the past and our understanding of the past has benefits for today and tomorrow."

Brandon Hartung

"My interest in local history is rooted in my love for sharing the rich tapestry of natural, human, and cultural history with local people and visitors.”

Tom Urbanski

Jan Larson

"I am interested in history. We can learn from the past. I'm excited to learn more about the rich history of Carlton County"

Kevin Allen

"Being that I am new to the area, I knew the easiest way to learn about my new community was to get involved with CCHS. Local history can teach you so much about an area, and now I am contributing every day to the history of the county. The history of you, me and all the others on this planet can tell us so much about each other. The best part of it all - all you have to do is look."

Rob Kavanaugh

Anna Fellegy

"The collection and preservation of local history forms a vital piece of the regional, state, Tribal, and national historical bedrock. All human history begins locally."

Greg Hallback

"As a lifelong resident of Cloquet, each passing year grows my roots deeper in my city's and my family's past. My affinity with our collective history strengthens with each year."

Joe Oliveri

Foundation Board Members

Pat Brandstaetter:

Foundation Board President and Ex-Officio CCHS Board Member

"Valuing the past, present, and future, for future generations"

Anja Bottila

"History repeats itself"

Paula Davis

Todd Rengo

I was a child when I first heard the stories of the 1918 fire and of the heroic rescue of 60 people who took to the plowed field under wet blankets on my great grandfather John Rengo’s Automba homestead (settled in 1893). Preserving the rich history of Carlton County ensures a connection to the amazing people, and to the stories and struggles of years past.