Last updated: 2/3/2014
218 1st Street NorthSauk Rapids, MN 56379
First Saturday of Month: 11am - 4pm
Monday - Friday
10 AM - 4 PM
By appointment call 320-253-9614
There is no charge for admission, however there is a charge for research by staff of $10.00 per hour, $0.10 per copy, plus cost of postage. Workers are volunteers and we would welcome anyone who would like to volunteer sometime. We would also welcome any donations of work on family history that you may have done and would like to make available
Free. Donations Accepted.
The Benton County History Museum has available for research a number of sources of information available for those wishing to research family history. A number of people have donated a lot of information. We have files of information that cover a great number of people by surnames. Some of the surnames that we have extensive information on include Artig, Baskfield, Bjurnstrom, Bolinski, Bosworth, Brennan, Droplewski (Drops), Dziuk, Forschen, Fromelt, Kaproth, Latterell, Lewandowski, Mayman, Mendel, Misho, Pekarek, Peschl, Rofidal, Russell, Sowa, Studer, Wilson, Wippich, Wood, Youso, and Zawacki.
Other holdings include census on microfilm both Federal and state, Benton County Veterans Census, Benton County Naturalization Records. Newspapers: "Benton County Independent" (1901-1933), "Benton County News" (1945-1984), "Benton County Review" [Rice] (1908-1911), "St. Cloud Democrat" (1856-1866), "St. Cloud Journal" (1873-1869), "St. Cloud Journal Press" (1876-1918), "Sauk Rapids Frontiersman" (1855-1859), "Sauk Rapids Sentinel Free Press" (1903-1930), "Sauk Rapids Sentinel" (1871-1932), "Sauk Rapids Free Press" (1890-1910), "Sauk Rapids Herald" (1940-1984) and the "Watab Revielle" (Jan-Feb 1851).
Original books and documents include city directories: St. Cloud / Sauk Rapids (1912-1976 most copies), probate records, Minnesota atlas and maps, Benton County plat maps (1903-1999), scrap books, high school year books for Foley and Sauk Rapids, and Benton County church histories. There are newspaper clippings with obituaries, weddings, births, and anniversaries. Also available gravestone registrations of all county cemeteries up to 1977, family photograph albums, audio history tapes of Benton County, and family history books.
Other historical items include Benton County Ojibwe and Sioux history summary, World War II military items, Vietnam War items, first Benton County school bus, wooden farm implements, pictures of the cyclone of 1886 from Sauk Rapids, and pictures of early Benton County settlers. Please see our Research Index on our website for details on the collection.
Please visit our Photo Project Page on our website. We are now beginning the process of scanning our photo collection in order to try to save the photos for future use and display. The Benton County Historical Society photo project is an attempt to make many of the photographs in our collection available for public viewing. By putting them on a web site we are trying to reduce the possibility of damage to or loss of the originals.
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is
provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as
to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc.
and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such
use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.