Brown County Historical Society | New Ulm

Brown County Historical Society Museum – In Detail

The Brown County Historical Society Museum, located at 2 North Broadway in downtown New Ulm, Minnesota, is more than just a local museum-it is the cultural and historical anchor of Brown County. Housed in one of the most distinctive buildings in the region, the museum preserves and interprets the rich tapestry of southern Minnesota’s history, from its Indigenous origins through German immigration, industrial development, and civic life.

The Building and Its Historical Significance

The museum is set in a three-story, red brick structure designed in the German Renaissance Revival style, built between 1909 and 1910 to serve originally as New Ulm’s federal post office. Its construction was championed by local citizens who lobbied Congress to secure extra funding to ensure it would reflect the city's strong German heritage and architectural traditions.

Key architectural features:

Terra cotta trim, arched windows, and slate roof tiles

Copper cornices and ornamental elements crafted in high Baroque style

Heavy brickwork and symmetrical façades giving it a grand yet balanced appearance

It was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. After ceasing postal operations in 1976, the building was acquired by the Brown County Historical Society and converted into a museum in 1984. It has since undergone major restoration projects, including masonry repair, brick cleaning, window restoration, and roof stabilization to preserve its historic integrity.

Permanent and Rotating Exhibits

The museum features three floors of carefully curated exhibits, each presenting a different facet of the region’s past:

First Floor – “Becoming Brown County”

This long-term exhibit traces the human story of Brown County:

Begins with Indigenous Dakota history, including pre-contact artifacts, cultural practices, and spiritual traditions.

Follows with European immigration, focusing on German settlers who shaped much of the county’s development in the mid-1800s.

Includes displays on homesteading, early agriculture, town building, and local governance.

Artifacts include traditional German household goods, farming tools, photographs, and immigration documents.

Touch-screen elements and interpretive panels help visitors understand the push-pull forces of migration, survival, and community building.

Second Floor – Rotating and Special Exhibits

The second floor hosts temporary exhibits that rotate seasonally or annually. Recent and notable displays include:

“170 Years of New Ulm: The City of Charm and Tradition”
Celebrating New Ulm’s founding in 1854, this exhibit presents an immersive look at the city’s evolution, highlighting architecture, institutions, commerce, and civic identity through vintage photos, maps, and everyday objects.

“Milling Through Time”
A detailed examination of Brown County’s once-booming flour milling industry. The exhibit includes:

Millstones and wooden gears

Charred grain samples from mill fires

Historic photos of defunct mills in Sleepy Eye, Essig, and New Ulm

Technical drawings and ledgers from mill operations

Past exhibits have explored:

New Ulm Fire Department's 150-year history

The city’s Turnverein and German athletic clubs

World War II-era homefront efforts in Brown County

Prohibition and brewing heritage in relation to August Schell Brewing Company

Third Floor – “Never Shall I Forget”

This deeply researched, powerful exhibit addresses the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862, a conflict with lasting consequences for Minnesota's Indigenous and settler communities. New Ulm was a focal point in the war, suffering two major attacks in August 1862.

Highlights include:

Eyewitness accounts from settlers and Dakota people

Military orders and weapons used during the defense of New Ulm

Dioramas depicting scenes of the siege and defense

Multimedia recordings of personal narratives, including oral histories from descendants of those affected

Educational content contextualizing treaties, encroachments, cultural misunderstandings, and tragic outcomes

This exhibit is regarded as one of the most comprehensive public presentations of the 1862 conflict in southern Minnesota.

Research Center and Genealogy Archives

In addition to its exhibits, the museum houses a research library and archive, considered one of the most extensive county-level collections in Minnesota.

Resources include:

Over 5,000 family history files

Microfilm of newspapers dating back to the 1800s

Church records, cemetery maps, school yearbooks, civic meeting minutes

Rare books and maps relevant to New Ulm and the broader county

Local historians, genealogists, and students use the archive for deep research projects. Staff assistance is available on-site.

Community Engagement and Programs

The Brown County Historical Society is very active in public education and outreach. Some notable offerings:

Walking Tours: Led by trained guides, covering downtown New Ulm architecture, German cultural sites, and war memorials.

Kiesling House: A historic pioneer home operated by the society nearby, open seasonally for demonstrations and tours of 1860s life.

Historical Lectures and Author Talks: Covering a range of topics from Dakota heritage to brewing history to women's suffrage.

Seasonal Events: Such as “Christmas at the Kiesling House,” family days, heritage fairs, and museum nights.

Museum Store and Unique Features

The museum shop offers a curated selection of local history books, prints, ornaments, German-language items, and vintage New Ulm postcards.

During summer months, the Historic Popcorn Wagon, a preserved and functional vintage popcorn stand, is stationed near the museum and operated by volunteers. It's both a snack source and a nostalgia piece from New Ulm’s street fair era.

Visitor Information

Location: 2 North Broadway, New Ulm, MN 56073

Hours:

Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Closed Sunday and Monday

Research Library closed daily from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Admission Fees:

Adults: $7

Seniors (65+) and active military: $5

Youth (ages 5–17): $4

Children under 5: Free

Household Day Pass: $25 (1 adult and all their children)

School and group tours available by arrangement

Summary

The Brown County Historical Society Museum is a cornerstone of New Ulm’s historical landscape-bringing together a meticulously preserved building, rich permanent exhibits, rotating features, and a powerful archive. It balances scholarly depth with engaging storytelling and is essential for anyone interested in Minnesota’s settlement history, German-American culture, and the intersection of Indigenous and settler histories. A visit here offers more than facts-it invites reflection, discovery, and connection to the people and forces that shaped the region.