Civil War veteran issues on display; Grand Army of the Republic Hall open house is Sept. 9
Published 7:48 am Tuesday, September 5, 2017
- Kids get rides at a summer open house held earlier this year at the Mower County Historical Society, one of a handful held to provide visitors a chance to tour MCHS holdings. On Sept. 9, an open house will be at the GAR Hall in Grand Meadow. Photo provided
GRAND MEADOW —The Mower County Historical Society will host a weekend open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 at its GAR Hall in Grand Meadow.
The open houses, new this year, offer visitors a chance to see the buildings and exhibits at the historical society.
The exhibit in the GAR Hall teaches visitors about the Grand Army of the Republic and its role among Union veterans after the Civil War.
“I think people will be surprised by how relevant the issues from the late 1860s are today,” said MCHS Curator Jaimie Timm.
“Today, many returning veterans face the same problems experienced by Union veterans 150 years ago.”
The GAR Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1891. It has been in MCHS’ care since 1960. The GAR Hall takes about 30 minutes to tour and is self-guided. MCHS staff will be on-hand to answer questions.
The final open house of the year will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Mower County Historical Society on the Mower County Fairgrounds.
Admission is free, but donations are always welcome. For more information, visit the society’s website at www.mowercountyhistory.org or call the office at 507-437-6082 for more information.
The GAR Hall is located in Grand Meadow. Here are directions:
•Take I-90 East to exit No. 193 for Hwy. 16.
•Turn right on Hwy. 16 and follow it to Grand Meadow.
•Turn right on Main Street; the GAR Hall is on the right side after you cross First Avenue Southwest. Please note that due to the historical nature of the buildings, not all are handicap accessible.
