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In 1934 a group of individuals gathered at <br />the Stillwater Public Library to "investigate <br />and study the history of Washington County" <br />and to "provide for the collection and <br />preservation" of our history and the <br />Washington County <br />Historical Society <br />was formed. <br />For more than <br />ninety years, WCHS <br />has focused on <br />purchasing historic <br />buildings and land <br />in order to tell the <br />stories of the area. Initially storing collections in a <br />room in the library, it quickly became necessary <br />to expand. After incorporating in 1941, the <br />Warden's House of the Stillwater Prison was <br />purchased from the State of Minnesota. The <br />Warden's House is the only Minnesota Territorial <br />building remaining, as well as the second <br />oldest continuously operating house museum <br />in the state. It was added to the National <br />Register of Historic Places in 1974. <br />During the 1970s, the Historical Society took <br />over the tours at the Hay Lake School building <br />and later purchased the school from the Forest <br />Lake School District. At the same time, an 1868 <br />log house, constructed by Johannes Erickson, <br />a Swedish immigrant, was moved onto the site. <br />Both these buildings have also been added to <br />the National Register of Historic Places. <br />In 1996, with the collections growing rapidly, <br />the WCHS reconstructed the Warden's House <br />carriage house for use as storage and a <br />research facility. Now, twenty years later, <br />the collections again have grown to a point <br />to where more storage is needed. More <br />importantly, the organization is now ready to <br />expand its offerings to provide a substantial <br />resource currently lacking in this community: <br />a Heritage Center, to include dedicated <br />exhibit space, up-to-date research facilities, <br />and classroom/meeting areas. This new Center <br />will confirm the role Washington County played <br />in both the early days of statehood as well <br />as allow new opportunities to highlight the <br />important role it continues to play in the <br />ongoing developments of our state and <br />nation. It is to this end that the Board of Director's <br />approved launching a $5 million capital <br />campaign in <br />January, 2019. - , rx <br />{ <br />