New name, ‘History Center of Freeborn County’

November 5, 2024 – The Freeborn County Historical Society board of directors is excited to announce a name change. After a thoughtful discussion at the October board meeting, there was a unanimous vote to approve a change to our name. Going forward we will be the HISTORY CENTER OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

 

You may be asking why? Several points factored into this decision.

 

We are more than a museum, library, and village. We are a gathering place for the community. Currently the Civil War Roundtable, Sons of Norway, Kiwanis Golden K, Albert Lea Police Department Coffee with a Cop, and the Freeborn County Genealogical Society meet on a regular basis at the museum. We hope to see more community minded groups meet here.

 

Quite often we hear comments on being a Freeborn County government program. While we receive some funding from the county, about 10% of our budget, we are primarily a self-funded nonprofit who relies on memberships, donations, and grants to complete our mission each year. We felt that focusing on the History Center we may be able to relay this message more effectively.

 

Let's be honest, Freeborn County Historical Museum, Library and Village is a mouthful.

 

The History Center of Freeborn County is a privately funded, non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1948, committed to building the future by preserving the past. HCFC collects, preserves and tells the story of Freeborn County’s past through museum exhibits, research, collections, tours, and educational programs. HCFC is located at 1031 Bridge Avenue, Albert Lea, MN. You can reach us at 507/373-8003, or fchmmn.org. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the most up-to-date information.