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.
Local War Hero
Retired local attorney Steve Smith is sharing some military items of his father, John M. Smith, with a special community exhibit in the Lange Theater from July to September. The exhibit comprises his World War II logbooks, news articles, models of his airplanes, books, and other publications.
John Smith was born in Owatonna in 1922, entered the United States Navy soon after Pearl Harbor, and was trained as a pilot flying the F4U Corsair fighter. He was assigned to VF-17 (the "Jolly Rogers") on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands, where he shot down three Japanese warplanes. In 1944, the squadron was rotated back to the U.S. and its veterans formed the nuclei of new squadrons. He was assigned to VF-84 aboard the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) for the drive on the Empire of Japan. He shot down seven planes, the final ones on 11 May 1945, when the Bunker Hill was struck by Kamikazes and knocked out of the war. With ten victories, he ranked fourth among Navy Corsair Aces. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross eight times and the Purple Heart.
The public is invited to a special program given by Steve Smith at the History Center on Monday, August 12, at 2:00 p.m.
Target Audience: All ages
Location: Lange Theater
Display Schedule: July- September 2024
Main Exhibit: Childhood in Steele County
This new exhibit highlights the many different experiences children in Steele County have faced throughout the years. From the joys of a new toy or phone to the challenges of bullying and loss.
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Guests will get a chance to follow the life of a real Steele County child, by following that child's unique icon on the text panels.
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Target Audience: All ages.
Location: Exhibition Hall
Display Schedule: February - December 2024
Black and White Photographs of Steele County
Coming for a room rental? Enjoy a few of SCHS's black and white prints on canvas. Prints feature various scenes from Steele County's history.
Target Audience: All ages.
Location: Wenger Room
Display Schedule: Ongoing
1893 World's Columbian Exposition
2023 marked the 130th anniversary of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. This Exposition also known as the Chicago World's Fair was an influential social and cultural event that had a profound impact on American architecture, the arts, American industrial optimism and Chicago's image. Come learn about the history of the Exposition and its impact on Steele County.
Target Audience: All ages, great for middle to high school age children.
Location: Lange Theater, Wooden Display Case
Display Schedule: 2023
