Current Exhibits at the Steele County Historical Society
Why do we create exhibits and what is our process?
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While the primary duty of our Society is the preservation of our history, it is also part of our mission to share this history with the community. We do this through the creation of exhibits that we display in our Exhibition Hall and throughout the History Center.
Our exhibits are rotating and we create new ones each year to display and share with the public. Keep your eyes out to see what new exhibits are on the way!
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If you have any ideas or themes for future exhibits that you would like to see, please let us know! Contact the History Center and we would be happy to hear from you.
Land, Air, Water: Celebrating Conservation and Preservation in Steele County
The Owatonna Izaak Walton League will be celebrating 100 years of service, and the Steele County Soil and Water Conservation District will be celebrating 80 years of operation. Come learn about local conservation and preservation projects. There will be interactive displays for the whole family. SCHS is partnering with local Native American historian Jeff Jarvis to create original illustrations and panels sharing the Steele County Wahpekute Dakota history.
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The Native Wahpekute exhibit will be featured in the 2026 main exhibit Land, Air, Water. It will then become a standalone exhibit at the History Center.​
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Target Audience: All ages.
Location: Main Exhibit Hall
Display Schedule: February-December 2026
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A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned
Since the first pennies were distributed in the U.S. in 1793, people began making special containers to hold their coins. These containers were called penny banks. Many penny banks were marketed to children and were made to teach the importance of saving money. The banks came in all shapes and sizes that were fun for kids to play with including animals, cars, or safes. Banks on loan from Jeff Boss
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Target Audience: All ages.
Location: Lange Theater
Display Schedule: February - June 2026
