We are proud to serve Carlton County in the collection, preservation and dissemination of the history of the county. We invite you to become a member of the Carlton County Historical Society and help provide needed support for this important work.

Our library is a smorgasbord of information. We've got census data, marriage certificates, newspaper files, naturalization records, microfilm, maps and more. If you can't visit us - order take out - we are available to research your questions by mail, phone, or e-mail.

We offer books & publications that tell the story of Carlton County's history. We also carry coffee mugs, T-shirts, postcards and other souvenir items. Items for sale are available at the Museum Store or may be ordered by mail, phone, or e-mail. Minnesota residents pay a 6.875% sales tax and mailed books will be charged shipping and handling.

Our museum has two permanent exhibits: the 1918 Forest Fire and a Model Logging Camp. Currently our changing exhibit is called "What's Cooking?" and features kitchen equipment, furniture and gadgets from Carlton County kitchens of the past. This exhibt continues until June 2012. Our next changing exhibit will be "Barns of Carlton County", showing photographs and artifacts from historical barns throughout the county. This exhibit will run from July through October 2012. Starting on November 8, 2012, we will host a traveling exhibit called "Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations". This exhibit is a partnership of the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Minnesota Humanities Center and the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. This exhibit closes December 15, 2012.

The CCHS was established in 1949, and in the last sixty-two years admission to the museum has always been free. The museum offers visitors the opportunity to view three exhibits, the “Fires of 1918” exhibit, the “Carlton County Logging” exhibit and the new “Shaw Memorial Library” exhibit. Visitors may also view historical videos of the 1918 forest fire, use the archives in the CCHS research library and attend special programs every month. The building is handicapped accessible.