The Ramsey County Historical Society is the officially-recognized historical agency of Ramsey County.
The RCHS's has three primary programs:
Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life
The Society began in 1949 when a group of citizens moved to acquire and preserve the Heman and Jane Gibbs farm in suburban Falcon Heights. The Gibbs Farm Museum opened in 1954. The Gibbs house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Today the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer & Dakotah Life presents a dual Dakotah Indian/pioneer interpretation.
Ramsey County History Quarterly Magazine
In 1964, Ramsey County History began a distinguished tradition of assembling original, important information on engaging stories that might otherwise be lost to time. Ramsey County History has enjoyed uninterrupted publication and has twice received awards from the American Association for State and Local History. The magazine offers readable, non-academic local history focusing as much on the ordinary person as on the extraordinary. The Society also publishes books, several of which have won awards.
Research Center and Archive
The RCHS Research Center is a non-circulating collection documenting the history of Ramsey County and St. Paul. The library archives contain books, periodicals, city directories, maps, photographs, personal papers, business and organization records, architectural information and materials on clubs, schools, and churches. The RCHS Research Center and Archive is located in downtown St. Paul’s Landmark Center, a restored Federal Courts building on the National Register of Historic Places.
A new RCHS Research Center is in process. We have identified space within Landmark Center for our archival collections – especially the St. Paul Building Permits (1883 – 1970) - as well as for a user friendly Research Center. Our new space will contain storage for our two-dimensional collections (such as photographs and building permits), and will serve as a comfortable setting in which the public can use these collections.
"The Ramsey County Historical Society inspires current and future generations to learn from
and value their history by engaging in a diverse program of presenting, publishing and preserving."
The RCHS Research Center is a non-circulating collection documenting the history of Ramsey County and St. Paul. The library archives contain books, periodicals, city directories, maps, photographs, personal papers, business and organization records, architectural information and materials on clubs, schools, and churches. The RCHS Research Center and Archive is located in downtown St. Paul’s Landmark Center, a restored Federal Courts building on the National Register of Historic Places.
A new RCHS Research Center is in process. We have identified space within Landmark Center for our archival collections – especially the St. Paul Building Permits (1883 – 1970) - as well as for a user friendly Research Center. Our new space will contain storage for our two-dimensional collections (such as photographs and building permits), and will serve as a comfortable setting in which the public can use these collections. We plan to start renovation of the space in early 2010, and to open our new, inviting Research Center to the public in May 2010.