Lake County Historical Society Faces Major Winter Setbacks – Community Support Needed

Ellen Lynch
Executive Director
Lake County Historical Society

This winter’s harsh cold has been tough on everyone, but the Lake County Historical Society has faced particularly severe challenges. Just as we were preparing to celebrate our centennial year, a series of un­fortunate events forced us to shift our focus to emergency repairs.

In December, during an ex­treme cold snap, the boiler in the 3M Museum failed, lead­ing to frozen pipes and subse­quent flooding. While most of the museum’s artifacts were spared, significant damage oc­curred to flooring, drywall, and plumbing.

As we worked with contractors and our insurance company to coordinate repairs, another cri­sis emerged. Earlier this month, the boiler in the Keeper’s Quar­ters at the Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast also failed, causing the plumbing to freeze. While interior damage was minimal, multiple radiators, pipes, and fixtures now require replace­ment.

This latest setback is especial­ly concerning because the Bed and Breakfast is a vital source of revenue for the Historical Society. The sooner repairs are completed, the sooner we can resume operations and continue supporting our mission.

Over $100,000 in damage was caused from both disasters. While insurance will cover much of the cost, it won’t cover everything. We urgently need community support to raise $40,000 to restore both proper­ties and keep our history alive. Due to both emergencies, until repairs are completed, both the Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast and the 3M Birthplace Museum will remain closed.

How You Can Help

Anyone interested in support­ing our efforts has several ways to contribute:

Click to Donate Online

Send a check to:

Lake County Historical Society
PO Box 128
Two Harbors, MN

Become a member by visiting lakecountyhistoricalsociety.org.   

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to recovery. Thank you for helping us preserve Lake County’s history for generations to come.

About LCHS

Established in 1925, the Lake County Historical Society (LCHS) is dedicated to pre­serving and sharing the rich history of Lake County, Minne­sota. Through the preservation, study, and interpretation of arti­facts, documents, photographs, and historic sites LCHS brings the stories of the region’s past to life.

The Society manages three historic properties in Two Har­bors: The Depot Museum, the 3M Birthplace Museum, and the Two Harbors Lighthouse.