Digital Exhibits
During to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Brown County Historical Society remained committed to presenting the history of Brown County, and created a digital exhibit on the history of baseball in the county. The exhibit can be see here.
We anticipate making additional digital exhibits in the future, so keep an eye out for them!
First Floor
Becoming Brown County: The Land and its People
Open now is a new permanent exhibit in the Brown County Historical Society’s museum, Becoming Brown County: The Land and its People. The exhibit tells the story of the early history and formation of Brown County during the periods of prehistory, early human habitation, and European settlement.
Specific topics include the geographical formation of the county and how it has affected human settlement, Native American cultures before and after European contact, the fur trade, settlement by Europeans, formation of Brown County, early towns, early industries and businesses, ethnicity and culture of inhabitants, and significant events. The exhibit will include other topics, such as transportation, early education, health care, or recreational activities as space allows. These other sections will be rotated out and replaced with new themes to keep the exhibit fresh.
The exhibit is located on the first floor of the Brown County Museum.
Second Floor
Gut Heil! New Ulm as a Turner Town
In honor of the 56th National American Turner Festival in New Ulm this summer, the Brown County Historical Society museum has opened the exhibit Gut Heil! New Ulm as a Turner Town. Gut Heil! explains the history of the New Ulm Turner Society from its organization in 1857, as well as the formation of Turnerism in Europe and its beginnings in the United States. On display are artifacts from New Ulm’s Turnverein.
The exhibit will be open through April 2024.
Bridge of Friendship, Ulm and New Ulm
Bridge of Friendship, Ulm and New Ulm highlights the relationship between New Ulm, Minnesota and its sister city Ulm, Germany. The exhibit displays the artifacts previously in the “Ulm Room” at the museum. These artifacts include antique furniture, photographs, prints, and figurines from Ulm, Germany. The artifacts were donated to New Ulm by the City of Ulm, Germany. The Ulm Room was dedicated in August 1984, and remained on display until 2017.
Bridge of Friendship is on display until fall 2023.
What’s New?
What’s New? showcases recent additions to the BCHS collections and includes a variety of different types of historic artifacts from the people of Brown County. The exhibit will give members of the public a chance to view these new additions before they are placed in the museum’s storage areas. On display are several pieces of furniture; a bed made by Charles Wagner, who operated a furniture store in New Ulm, and three pieces of furniture from the Dacotah Hotel. The Dacotah Hotel was built in New Ulm in 1859 and operated until 1971.
Other artifacts on display include photographs and artworks created by Brown County residents. They include a painting by Catherine Neierengarten, a New Ulm artist and business owner, and several Wanda Gág sketches, items from the Comfrey Railroad depot, artifacts from local businesses, homemade textiles, and several articles of clothing.
This exhibit will be on display until spring 2024 on the second floor of the Brown County Historical Society’s museum.
A New Ulm Hero: Captain Willibald Bianchi
More than 3500 American service members have earned the Medal of Honor. Included among them is Captain Willibald Bianchi. In this display, you can learn more about the life and service of Captain Bianchi.
Bianchi grew up in New Ulm, and Bianchi joined the Army in 1940. He served in the 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts during World War II and participated in the defense of the Philippines after the Japanese Army invaded in 1941. Captain Bianchi was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for destroying two Japanese machine-gun nests. Captain Bianchi was taken prisoner in April 1942. On January 9, 1945, Captain Bianchi was tragically killed on a Japanese prison ship when it was bombed by a U. S. Navy plane.
Third Floor
Never Shall I Forget – A New Look At Brown County and the U.S.-Dakota War
The exhibit, Never Shall I Forget summarizes the events of the U. S. – Dakota War that began in August, 1862. The exhibit explores the causes, events, and effects of the war shaped Minnesota’s history.
New Ulm
Battery Cannon
Tipi
Leavenworth
Rescue Wagon
