Experience base ball as it was in 1860! Watch the Hens take on the Chicks in a rivalry that goes back decades and then stay to watch the Roosters take on a team of local celebrities.

Admission is only 2 bits (25¢)!

There will be concessions available for purchase and entertainment for the whole family!

-William Dee log cabin and historic schoolhouse will be open
-Games/Contests
-Face painting
-Wagon rides
-Chickens
-Public Library Goodies
-More!!

Join us for a historic milestone as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday right here at the History Center of Olmsted County with "Bingo in the Barn"! Bring the whole family out to the George Stoppel Farmstead for an evening packed with community spirit and old-fashioned fun. Food trucks on site with Espadin, Fuzzys's Italian Ice, Northern Fizz, and a fiber art enthusiast to showcase a craft project for the kids!

Kids Bingo in the Barn
5pm - 6pm (free)  click here to reserve your FREE seat
  --kid's activities (bean bags, craft activities etc.)
  --prizes

Adult Bingo & Trivia in the Barn
6:15pm - 7:30pm
  --pre-sale price, per person/pack
    (use the buy tickets button)
    nonmember $12, member $10
  --at the door: nonmember $25, member $20
  --limited spots available
  --prizes and gift cards from local businesses
       **We have gift card prizes for adult bingo totaling over $600. Including Kwik Trip, Café Aqui, Sargent's, Rochester Repertory Theatre, Northern Hills Golf Course, Red’s Savoy Pizza, Zen Fusion, Blue Lagoon Mini Golf, Freddys Bakery and Cafe and many more!

Thanks to Target and Daughters of the American Revolution, Rochester Chapter for their support.

The Rochester Public Library Bookmobile regularly carries more than 4,500 items, including adult and children's books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs. Be sure to stop and visit the Bookmobile JUly 9th, 23rd and August 6th and 20th at HCOC and be sure to walk through the exhibit hall while admission is FREE thanks to Think Bank.

Join us at the History Center on Thursday, July 9, 2026, for a special screening of the powerful short film, "Serving with Honor," presented by Mayo Clinic content expert Mark Warner, M.D. This captivating documentary explores the deeply rooted, historical alliance between Mayo Clinic and the United States military, tracing a legacy of service that dates back to the Civil War. Following the film, Dr. Warner will share expert insights and context regarding this rich heritage of medical patriotism.

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

Gather the little ones and join us at the History Center on Friday, July 17th, 2026, for a wonderful morning of imagination, crafts, and snack at our upcoming Storytime! We are thrilled to welcome our special guest storyteller and author of Goodnight Fireflies,  Tammy Wilson, so be sure to mark your calendars and make plans to drop in for this amazing FREE family memory!

The History Center is home to many wonderful partner groups, and we invite you to come learn more about them and celebrate with us! Spend the day exploring the grounds with tours of Heirloom Gardens, vintage base ball with the Rochester Roosters, Olmsted County Genealogy Society will be on site with their cookbooks for purchase. You can also take a look at our beautiful community gardens and more!

Schedule of Activities:

• Roosters Vintage Base Ball: 12:00PM – 2:00PM
• Tours of Heirloom Gardens with Master Gardeners: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Join us for five days at the History Center Summer Camp. It is an interactive educational program designed to introduce students to everyday life in the 19th century through hands-on learning experiences. All activities are led by experienced staff in a safe, supportive environment and are tailored to each age group. Daily programs include, 1800s farmstead chores (e.g. grinding corn to feed the chickens), a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse, and fun arts and crafts projects! Parents feel free to roam our museum hall and archives while your child is enjoying the camp.

$65 for non- members. $50 for HCOC members (5 days)

The History Center Summer Camp is an interactive educational program designed to introduce students to everyday life in the 19th century through hands-on learning experiences. All activities are led by experienced staff in a safe, supportive environment and are tailored to each age group. Daily programs include, 1800s farmstead chores (e.g. grinding corn to feed the chickens), a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse, and fun arts and crafts projects! Join us for one day or all five. Parents feel free to roam our museum hall and archives while your child is enjoying the camp.

$15 for non-members. $12 for HCOC members. (one day)

The History Center Summer Camp is an interactive educational program designed to introduce students to everyday life in the 19th century through hands-on learning experiences. All activities are led by experienced staff in a safe, supportive environment and are tailored to each age group. Daily programs include, 1800s farmstead chores (e.g. grinding corn to feed the chickens), a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse, and fun arts and crafts projects! Parents feel free to roam our museum hall and archives while your child is enjoying the camp.

$15 for non-members. $12 for HCOC members. (one day)

The History Center Summer Camp is an interactive educational program designed to introduce students to everyday life in the 19th century through hands-on learning experiences. All activities are led by experienced staff in a safe, supportive environment and are tailored to each age group. Daily programs include, 1800s farmstead chores (e.g. grinding corn to feed the chickens), a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse, and fun arts and crafts projects! Join us for one day or all five. Parents feel free to roam our museum hall and archives while your child is enjoying the camp.

$15 for non-members. $12 for HCOC members. (one day)

The Rochester Public Library Bookmobile regularly carries more than 4,500 items, including adult and children's books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs. Be sure to stop and visit the Bookmobile July 23rd and  August 6th and 20th at HCOC and be sure to walk through the exhibit hall while admission is FREE thanks to Think Bank.

The History Center Summer Camp is an interactive educational program designed to introduce students to everyday life in the 19th century through hands-on learning experiences. All activities are led by experienced staff in a safe, supportive environment and are tailored to each age group. Daily programs include, 1800s farmstead chores (e.g. grinding corn to feed the chickens), a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse, and fun arts and crafts projects! Parents feel free to roam our museum hall and archives while your child is enjoying the camp.

$15 for non-members. $12 for HCOC members. (one day)

The Rochester Public Library Bookmobile regularly carries more than 4,500 items, including adult and children's books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs. Be sure to stop and visit the Bookmobile August 6th and 20th. 

Join us on August 6th for the next highly anticipated installment of our Mayo Clinic Lecture Series, presented by W. Bruce Fye, M.D. This special event will feature an insightful short film Mayo Clinic and the White House: Caring for America's First Families followed by a discussion. For more than 150 years, Mayo Clinic has maintained a deeply rooted, non-political relationship with the nation's executive branch. Over the generations, Presidents and First Ladies from both political parties have walked through the doors. We invite you to come explore this fascinating intersection of American history and medicine.

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

Put on your dancing boots and join us for a spectacular evening at the second annual MHRT Days of Yesteryear Barn Dance! We are thrilled to welcome the community back to the historic George Stoppel Farmstead for a night of music, movement, and local heritage. This celebration is a wonderful way to experience the charm of the farmstead while enjoying the company of friends and neighbors. Admission to the dance is free with a Days of Yesteryear button, which serves as your all-access pass to the weekend festivities. These buttons are on sale now at the History Center of Olmsted County, so be sure to pick yours up early and get ready to kick up some dust in the barn!

Button: $8.00 each or two for $15.00 on sale now at HCOC

Step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and marvels of early American rural life at the annual Days of Yesteryear celebration, taking place Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year featuring Oliver, Crockshutt and White tractors, hosted by the Mechanical History Round Table on the historic Ralph Stoppel Farmstead grounds at the History Center of Olmsted County, this family-friendly weekend transports you to a bygone era with thrilling live demonstrations. Watch massive steam tractors chug into action, witness traditional oat threshing, and enjoy the classic "parade of power". Visitors of all ages can try their hand at pioneer crafts like rope making, watch the tinsmith, catch an authentic 1860s vintage base ball game with the Roosters, and grab some delicious local food.

Button: $8.00 each or two for $15.00 on sale now at HCOC

Grab your sun hats and lawn chair, and join us for a day of community spirit and old-fashioned competition during Days of Yesteryear! The Roosters and Hens host the Apple Jacks for a rousing game of vintage base ball.

Admission is 2 bits (.25¢)

Step back in time and experience the sights, sounds, and marvels of early American rural life at the annual Days of Yesteryear celebration, taking place Saturday, August 8th and Sunday, August 9th, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This year featuring Oliver, Crockshutt and White tractors, hosted by the Mechanical History Round Table on the historic Ralph Stoppel Farmstead grounds at the History Center of Olmsted County, this family-friendly weekend transports you to a bygone era with thrilling live demonstrations. Watch massive steam tractors chug into action, witness traditional oat threshing, and enjoy the classic "parade of power". Visitors of all ages can try their hand at pioneer crafts like rope making, watch the tinsmith, catch an authentic 1860s vintage base ball game with the Roosters, and grab some delicious local food.

Button: $8.00 each or two for $15.00 on sale now at HCOC

The Rochester Public Library Bookmobile regularly carries more than 4,500 items, including adult and children's books, audiobooks, magazines and DVDs. Be sure to stop and visit the Bookmobile August 20th at HCOC.

August 22, 2026 from 2pm - 5pm promises unforgettable fun as we honor 50 years of the incredible Booker Mini Band, celebrate 100 years of our very own History Center, and commemorate America’s 250th birthday! Admission to the event is completely free, and guests will have the exclusive opportunity to take tours of our historic farmstead, purchase amazing food from a lineup of fantastic local food trucks and sit back to enjoy some iconic music from one of the areas most loved bands.

• Fundraiser for the Renovation and Extension of the History Center Building (free-will donations)
• Special Guest: Brad Boice
• Bring your own chair!

Special thanks to Majestic Events for their generous support.