Join us for a free howling good time at our hair-raising hour of Halloween fun! Hear spooktacular, kid-friendly stories, come dressed in your favorite costume, and all the little ghouls can stay to craft something creepy!

Thanks to Olmsted Medical Center and Halloween Express at Miracle Mile for sponsoring this free program.

The Rochester Public Library Bookmobile strengthens community and enriches the lives of community members who are unable to use the main library due to geographic, transportation, economic or other barriers.
The Bookmobile will be at the History Center from 12:45pm - 1:45pm.

A favorite fall tradition is back for another year! For more than 10 years, families have been gathering at the History Center for a day full of fall fun!

Bring the whole family and enjoy. Rain or Shine!

• Pumpkin Painting 
• Alpaca Storytime with Homestead Arts Farm
• Hay Wagon Rides 
• Balloons by Kevin the Balloon Artist
• Fall Arts and Crafts 
• Explore our Historic Farmstead 
• Food Trucks on site
  (Oak & Embers Smoke Show, The Spud Truck, Northern Fizz and Sugar and Steam Coffee)

Admission:

Register in Advance:
$5 per child
$2 per adult
$3 member child
$1 member adult

At the Door:
$8 per child
$4 per adult
$5 member child
$3 member adult

Advance registration is strongly encouraged! Register ahead of time to guarantee a pumpkin for each participating child. Pumpkins are available while supplies last.

Special thanks to Halloween Express at Miracle Mile, Red Barn Learning Farm, Forte Living, Minnesota Energy Resources, Homestead Arts Farm, Casey's, and Realty Growth Inc. for sponsoring this family tradition.

Celebrate The Reading Center's 75th Anniversary with an inspiring panel discussion at the History Center of Olmsted County, moderated by Ilaya Rome Hopkins, granddaughter of cofounder Paula Rome. Hear accomplished Reading Center alumnus, including entrepreneurs, a lawyer, a doctor, an author, and other community leaders, share how they have made a lasting impact on our community, how they navigated dyslexia, and the role The Reading Center played in helping them achieve success.

Event Schedule
6-7 pm- History display and social hour
7-8 pm- Panel discussion

Panelists:
Brooks Edwards- M.D., Emeritus Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Joe Powers- CEO of Powers Ventures
Claire Langton Yanowitz-  JD, Owner and Managing Attorney at the Yanowitz Law Firm 
Greg Nesler - Retired Owner & President of Rochester Plumbing and Heating  
Andy Wood- Semi-retired Owner of Ergonomics and Wellness Consultant, Inc. and author.

Thanks to generous sponsors, this event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but seating is limited, so pre-registration is recommended by clicking →Reading Center Alumni Panel & History Display at History Center of Olmsted County

Join us for Heritage, Heroes, and History! designed for our 55+ community. This is a special program focusing on Southeast Minnesota during the Vietnam Era, offering a welcoming space for meaningful conversation and direct connection.

This 55+ community program is free with accepted donations. Please register in advance with the "Buy Tickets" link.

Thanks to CAPS Kitchen and Bath for sponsoring this program.

Join us on for an inspiring evening celebrating a true legend during our special screening of The Real Moonlight Graham: A Life Well Lived. This compelling short film offers a captivating look into the extraordinary life of Dr. Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, whose brief stint in Major League Baseball gave way to a remarkable, decades-long legacy as a beloved doctor and community pillar. Following the screening, guest speaker Jeanne Klein will deliver an engaging presentation, sharing exclusive insights and deeper historical context into Dr. Graham's enduring impact both on and off the field. 

$5 for non-members. FREE for HCOC members. 

Gather a team of four and put your puzzle-solving skills to the test as you race against the clock, and other teams to be the first to finish your historic themed puzzle.

• Prizes: The first two teams to complete their puzzle will win a prize!

• Take-Home Puzzle: Every team gets to keep the puzzle they complete.

• Registration: Advance registration is required. Only one team member needs to register for the entire group of four. Limit of 9 teams.

$45 for team of non-members. $40 for HCOC members. 
 

Join us for all the fun with Junk Journaling 101 and our extended workshop! Take advantage of our special bonus offer and save $2 when you sign up for both.

$18 non-members. $14 HCOC members.

Learn about the history of junk journaling, the basic techniques and get access to historic magazines released from our collection to create a junk journal page (or two).  All materials are provided to create a junk journal page but feel free to bring a notebook/book to start your own full junk journal and any materials you'd like to use!

$10 non-members. $8 for HCOC members.

Join us for Historic Junk Journaling! If you've already taken our introductory class and want to extend the fun, sign up for a social open-work session with full access to all materials including unique historic deaccessioned magazines.

$10 non-members. $8 for HCOC members.

Join us at the History Center of Olmsted County on Thursday, December 3rd, for a compelling screening and presentation on Where Healing Begins: The Mayo Clinic Experience. This captivating program delves into the rich heritage and groundbreaking medical traditions that transformed Rochester into a world-renowned destination for hope and care.

$5 for non-members. FREE for HCOC members.