The mission of the Northfield Historical Society is to connect individuals to the history
of the Northfield area by collecting, preserving, and sharing its unique stories.
Visit Us
408 Division Street
Northfield, MN 55057
Phone number: 507-645-9268
Fax number: 507-663-6080
Admission
$5 – Adults
$4 – Seniors (65+)
$3 – Students
$2 – Children (6 to 12)
Free – Children under 6
Free – NHS Members
Yes, We’re Open!!
Hours: May Hours: June-August
Monday 12 pm to 4 pm Monday 10 am to 4 pm
Tuesday 12 pm to 4 pm Tuesday 10 am to 4 pm
Wednesday 12 pm to 4 pm Wednesday 10 am to 4 pm
Thursday 10 am to 4 pm Thursday 10 am to 4 pm
Friday 10 am to 4 pm Friday 10 am to 4 pm
Saturday 10 am to 4 pm Saturday 10 am to 4 pm
Sundays Closed Sunday 12 pm to 4 pm
2021 Calendar
May 1—Spring Hours Begin
June 11 —Cemetery Stories presented by SCOPE
TBD – Adventures of John North program begins
August TBD—Adventures of John North program ends
September 8-12—DJJD
12—Outlaw Run 5K/15K Run-Walk
Follow Us on Facebook!
There's still time to see our pop-up exhibit at the Home and Garden show, while you're sign up to become a member! NHS members receive free admission to the museum along with free admission to other sites, like Rice County Historical Society, and 10% off in our museum store! Sign up to get these benefits AND support Northfield Historical Society!
It's a great day to think about projects around the house, but before you get started check out the Home and Garden show at the Dundas Dome! While you're there, stop by our booth to learn how you can become a Northfield Historical Society member! We have raffle prizes, giveaways if you sign up today, things for kids to see, a mini-exhibit, and more!
A great note from the mayor! Don't forget, your favorite local museum has volunteer opportunities year-round as well!😉Note from the Mayor: building a more connected community![]()
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Volunteerism is part of the core of who we are as a community. In 1931 with a population of around 3000 adults, there were 107 organizations that met weekly with a membership of 8,050. While I haven’t done the analysis recently, I’m sure the ratio of organizations to the number of memberships is likely a very similar ratio. In Northfield, our volunteers help us build a stronger, safer, more connected community one project, one relationship at a time.![]()
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The amount of time that you dedicate to volunteerism and making a difference on behalf of others is remarkable. Whether it’s reading to elementary youth, stocking the food shelf, coaching a youth sports team, cleaning up a local park or using your creativity to bring the set of a theatrical play to life, you are what makes our small town so special. The relationships that we build through these many experiences make the fabric of our community healthy and vibrant.![]()
Saturday, May 22 will be our third annual “Love Our City” community serve day, where 75 to 100 volunteers of all ages and from every corner of our diverse community work side by side around town on a wide range of projects. Volunteers will be doing general clean-up in our parks, and so much more.![]()
Some of the projects will include mulching, weeding, planting trees, staining, and putting plants in our parklet planters. We will start our morning at Riverside Park between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. to receive assignments and instructions. The day will culminate with a lunch at Riverside Park allowing us to compare notes, build stronger connections, and be closer neighbors.![]()
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We will be following current CDC guidelines for outdoor activities and ask that all participants wear masks when gathering or working in close proximity to others from different households. ![]()
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For the schedule, additional details, and to sign up for the May 22nd “Love Our City 2021” community wide serve day, you can reach organizers at loveourcitymn@gmail.com or visit this Sign Up Genius link: www.signupgenius.com/go/8050c4baba62ca5ff2-love1
Follow the link in this post to explore some of our photographic and archival collections!
It's time to reveal this week's #WhatsitWednesday challenge! This week, in honor of Mother's Day, we're featuring the typewriter that was used by Nellie "Mom" Phillips! Nellie Phillips was born in 1887, the daughter of Northfield's first fire chief and Raid witness, Ross Phillips. In 1942 Nellie began writing letters to American servicemen overseas fighting in World War II. Nellie estimated she wrote 40 letters per week to "her boys" and many letters written back to "Mom" were published in the Northfield News. Nellie continued writing to servicemen until 1965. She died in 1972. Thanks for playing, and a very Happy Mother's Day to all moms out there this weekend! (Photo: Nellie Phillips, undated, courtesy Northfield Historical Society Collection)
What Visitors Are Saying about the Northfield Historical Society
Visited with teenagers. They enjoyed the variety of explanations including a video orientation. Well done! Great restoration and presentation of a time after the Civil War when times were still turbulent.
Richard J., Gainesville, Georgia
We really enjoyed seeing this museum. They kept the actual bank part of it as it was when Jesse James and friends tried to abscond with the money. The film was very informative and we left feeling that we well understood what took place.
Kelly B.
Certainly worth the $5 admission…The young lady who walked us through the bank was a high school student who volunteers at the museum, She did a better job as a storyteller relating the events than many adults…
Three of the four of us [on the tour] are James historians, with one of us a person who works at the James Farm and two of us are James writers. We found the tour to be accurate and well done by our tour guide.
Elizabeth J. Lexington, Missouri
The Historical Society was very well done. There was a $5.00 entry fee and it was worth it. We watched a film on Jesse James and read more about him. It also had a room describing Malt o Meal. It’s worth the stop.
Via Trip Advisor
This is not your typical “any town” Historical Society Museum…