Galleries at the Carver County Historical Society
The Carver County Historical Society features five local history galleries and a gallery honoring veterans. The local history galleries are primarily thematic and tell the story
of our county's heritage. The objects on display are used to help tell these stories. Exhibits or parts of exhibits change regularly. Scavenger hunts are available for children of
all ages who are visiting the museum.
Westermann Spinning and Weaving Shop
Coming this fall the museum will have a new exhibit opening highlighting the Westermann Spinning and Weaving shop. The museum has received the tools, equipment and parts of the building
and is currently in the early stages of preparing the gallery. The museum will be closing the "Toolin' Around in Carver County" exhibit May 3 and dismantling the exhibit the week of May 6
to replace the space with the weaving shop. There is a timeline at the entrance of the museum to find out what stage of construction the gallery is at. Visitors are encouraged to visit the
museum to watch as the shop develops, learn why it takes so long and what the various stages a gallery goes through before completion. Feel free to give the museum feedback on what you see
and what you read as the labels and artifacts start to go on display. Work is currently being done behind the scenes: research on the owner, Gottlieb Westermann; finding the right photograph
to turn into a mural; and studying the daily life in Carver County late in the nineteenth century.
Timeline:
- Early May: dismantle "Toolin' Around in Carver County" and put tools in storage. Remove the battens and paint the walls.
- Late May: move woodturning lathe from storage into the gallery and remove the forge and anvil currently on display into storage.
- June: move tools from Spinning and Weaving shop into gallery space and enter data on the tools in database. Install mural of the view from the shop in Mayer.
- June: dismantle window from shop in Mayer and plan how to put it in gallery. Move original interior door from storage and plan for display.
- July and August: write labels and get feedback from the public. Begin installing artifacts.
- Late August and early September: final installation of labels and artifacts.
- Fall opening to the public.
Veterans' Gallery
The redesigned Veterans Gallery opened on November 11th, 2009. This gallery highlights the service of Carver County citizens over 150 years.
The gallery includes artifacts and personal accounts from the Civil War, The Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War and both Gulf Wars.
There is still some work yet to be done to fully complete this exhibit, and we are always looking for personal stories to add. This gallery now includes an alphabetized listing of all Veterans in the photo panels near the entrance. For more updates and to learn how you can help, click here.
Choosing Carver County
This gallery highlights the history of immigration to Carver County. Historically, the principle ethnic groups that settled in the county were Germans and Swedes. Trunks, books,
cooking utensils, personal belongings and photos all help to tell the immigrant story, as well as a special section detailing recent immigrant groups who call Carver County
home.
Snapshots of Carver County History
This gallery examines various aspects of Carver County's past including natural history, agriculture and industry, Jonathan Carver and recreation.
Akta Dakota
An interactive exhibit that allows visitors to examine the lifestyle of one of Carver County's earliest cultures: the Dakota Indians.
Traveling Exhibits from the Carver County Historical Society
The Invisible Hands That Feed Us
Coming soon is a bilingual (Spanish and English) exhibit about the migrant workforce in Carver County. Migrant workers travel great distances from
their permanent homes throughout the year in search of temporary work, and Carver County is one such location where migrant workers have been a valuable workforce.
Learn why migrant workers come to Carver County, what their work is like, how they live, and what they have done for the County. This exhibit will travel to other historical
societies, museums and libraries.
Online Exhibits from the Carver County Historical Society
Carver County Women
Women have not always had the rights to do things they wanted to do. Many women did not have the
opportunity to work, drive, play sports, vote and participate in politics, and have their ideas
taken seriously. Today women have more control over their lives, and CCHS seeks to honor what
women have gained. As women became more confident and wanted more access to independence, rights,
and the opportunity to problem-solve, their roles expanded and changed. The changes in women's
roles over time have affected our community in many ways, and those changes directly affect all of us.
Written by students in the Storytellers Class at Chaska High School
Learn more about women who have made an impact by visiting our online exhibit, Women
in History: Carver County.
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