Kenyon Area Historical Society at the Gunderson House

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

Saturday visitors at the Kenyon Area Historical Society at the Gunderson House

06/11/2026

Do you love Model T's? Members from three Model T clubs will be making a stop in Kenyon at the Gunderson House this Saturday, June 13th about 10:30 - 11:30. Members of the public are welcome to stop by and take a look at these cars and talk with their owners. The KAHS will also open up the Gunderson House during this time if you would like to take a look around! The clubs involved are T-totalers Model T Club, North Star Model T club, and Minnesota Valley Model T Club. We hope to see you there!

Send a message to learn more

05/14/2026

KAHS Summer Prep Days Friday and Saturday!

If you enjoy gardening, organizing, or just being part of a good community project, we’d be grateful for your help. Come for an hour or stay as long as you’d like — every bit makes a difference.
Let’s get the Gunderson House shining for summer!

Join us on Friday and Saturday, May 15 & 16, starting at 9am each day.
There’s something for everyone:
Outdoor tasks:
• Weeding
• Clearing out last year’s dead growth
• Splitting and thinning plants
• Mulching
Indoor tasks:
• Vacuuming and dusting
• Tidying and arranging displays
• Creating signage for upcoming tours

Send a message to learn more

05/05/2026

KAHS Summer Prep Days — Volunteers Needed!

We’re getting the Gunderson House and grounds ready for the summer season, and we’d love some extra hands! Join us on Friday and Saturday, May 15 & 16, starting at 9am each day.
There’s something for everyone:
Outdoor tasks:
• Weeding
• Clearing out last year’s dead growth
• Splitting and thinning plants
• Mulching
Indoor tasks:
• Vacuuming and dusting
• Tidying and arranging displays
• Creating signage for upcoming tours
If you enjoy gardening, organizing, or just being part of a good community project, we’d be grateful for your help. Come for an hour or stay as long as you’d like — every bit makes a difference.
Let’s get the Gunderson House shining for summer!

03/16/2026

Discovering Norwegian Roots: What Are Bygdebøker?
For our genealogy friends researching Norwegian heritage, one of the greatest resources you can use are the Norwegian farm and local history books called bygdebøker. These books surged in popularity in the early 1900s, when the Norwegian Historical Association launched a nationwide effort to document the histories of farms, families, municipalities, regions, and parishes.
Each community created its own bygdebok, so the level of detail varies from place to place. Most areas produced a set of books, each covering different aspects of local life. Together, they often include:
• Early settlement and local history
• Social and cultural life
• Schools and education
• Emigration patterns
• Church and parish history
• Agriculture and farm development
• And—most importantly for genealogists—farm histories that list the families who lived there over time

Why does this matter to us?
Because in Norway, a person’s identity was closely tied to the farm name. When you find the farm, you often find the family. Sometimes the family name is a hint to their farm name!

Here’s an example from one of the bygdebøker I used while researching my own ancestors from Meråker. Even if you can’t read Norwegian, you can still follow the names, dates, and family connections.

I would love to hear your stories of using these resources in your research!

12/13/2025

Cookie sale is still going on until 11am! And we got more rosettes!

12/13/2025

🎉🍪 Today’s the Day! 🍪🎉
The Kenyon Area Historical Society Christmas Bake Sale & Cookie Walk is happening this morning!
📅 Saturday, December 13
🕘 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
🏠 The Historic Gunderson House, 107 Gunderson Blvd, Kenyon, MN
✨ Now’s the time to pick up your pre‑orders — and shop for even more cookies to take home!
From spritz to rosettes, krumkake to lefse, the Gunderson House is filled with holiday favorites and community cheer.
Come for the cookies, stay for the spirit of the season.