A Passion for Local History

The desire for a County Historical Society was realized following a historical pageant performed at Whitewater State Park. Led by Mrs. Mildred M. Sebo, community members began the preliminary work needed to establish a county historical society. In May 1935, interested individuals and the Winona Association of Commerce met at the Arlington Club, deciding to proceed with the society’s formation. On June 21, 1935, the Winona County Historical Society was officially established, initially located on the third floor of the County Courthouse. Under President William Codman, the society had 254 members by October of that year.

The housing shortage that followed WWII left the WCHS in desperate need of permanent housing. After moving locations to the Winona State Teachers College, the Historical Society once again found themselves without a suitable structure for displaying artifacts. By 1954, the society’s president, Dr. Lewis I. Younger, had secured the Lumberman’s Building as WCHS’s fourth location since 1950. The Society remained in what is now the Laird Norton Center for the Arts until a final move to the Winona National Guard Armory in 1972.

A Permanent Home for the Winona County Historical Society

With a grant from the Winona County Board of Commissioners, the Winona County Historical Society secured the Armory as its permanent location. Growth, with over 1500 members, led to the construction of the Laird Norton Addition in 2010. Over the years, WCHS managed various historic sites and museums. Today, the Bunnell House in Homer, the Rural Heritage Museum in St. Charles, and the History Center are enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year.