Afton Historical Museum

Help Us Reach Our Fundraising Goal of $10,000!

Every Gift Counts!

Will you help the Afton Museum reach its fundraising goal for its annual operating costs?

The museum launched a new speaker series in 2023 featuring presentations on local and Minnesota history, educational topics, and local artists and writers. We are delighted to share the series was a hit and will continue next year!   

Author and former Afton resident Cynthia Blomquist Gustavson captivates a full house with stories from her book 'A Mischief of Mice', about growing up in Afton during the 1950s & 60s.

The museum continues to do critical projects with grant money from the State of Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the Minnesota Historical Society. Last year we restored our 100-year old mural, completed building upgrades, & installed a fire suppression system to safeguard our collection.

We are grateful for the grant money the Museum has received & for the trust placed upon our organization to satisfactorily complete these projects. 

However grant money can only be used for designated projects, and not for operating costs. Museum board members and volunteers participate in annual fundraising activities to raise money for monthly expenses, but we still rely on generous donors to help with these costs to keep our doors open. 

Can you help us reach our goal of $10,000?

THANK YOU for your continued support & for entrusting us to preserve our area history. We could not do it without you! 

Afton Historical Museum Mission Statement

The Afton Historical Society was organized in 1980 for the purpose of locating, collecting and preserving any material which would help to establish or illustrate the history of the Afton area or the state, the exploration, settlement, development, and activities in peace and war, the progress of population, ethnic groups, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacturing, trade, etc., and to disseminate historical information to interested persons, groups, and institutions.

Discover Your History: The museum has an outstanding collection of historic documents, including Afton's original plat map created in the early 1850s, diaries & letters from early residents, historic business ledgers, burial information, photographs, and property and family histories. Artifacts include historic farming implements, civil war memorabilia and Afton's first post office counter. Notable displays like "Wedding Dresses Through the Ages" have garnered rave reviews. 

Its All About Connections: Whether it's researching a property history or decorating pumpkins for the annual Halloween celebration, the Afton Museum is a place where people connect and discover.  Our popular events attract visitors who return year after year and there is something for every age. 

The Museum is located within the former Congregational church, built in 1868, in the historic Village of Afton. Since opening our doors in 1985, over 10,000 historic items have been protected and the museum has become a gathering spot for visitors young and old. Membership dues and donations are the primary source of funding for operating the museum. 

THANK YOU for your kind consideration and we hope to see you at the museum soon! For more information follow us on Facebook or visit our website.