Paynesville Historical Society

About UsThrough the initiation of the local Lion’s Club, the Paynesville Historical Society was organized on October 23, 1969, as a non-profit organization with the purpose of preserving and promoting the vast historical interests of the community and the surrounding area.

Our Mission

Learning from the past to inspire the future

Our Vision 

The mission of Paynesville Historical Society is to connect people to our community and inspire curiosity across generations, sharing and preserving the culture of Paynesville and rural Minnesota through discovery, preservation and programs making historical and cultural resources available to everyone. 

Our Values The Paynesville Historical Society is committed to using resources wisely to educate, connect and inspire, build historical empathy, and enrich the community through:

Education Value: Offer a unique learning environment, allowing visitors to interact with history from the past, making history more engaging and memorable.

Research Value: Offering a valuable collection of objects and documents that are available to all to study history, and to collaborate with organizations to conduct research and expand knowledge.

Culture Value: To preserve and protect cultural heritage, ensuring future generations can learn from and appreciate the past.

Social Value: Create a sense of identity and belonging within local communities bringing people together to explore shared experiences.