Steele County Historical Society

Friday, May 20, the American Showcase at the Steele County History Center features an artist who moved from Tennessee to Minnesota and a Minnesotan group. The Steele County Historical Society welcomes Chasity Brown to town. Brown grew up in Tennessee and eventually moved to Minneapolis...

Korey Kamholz of the Owatonna Fire Department shares the story of how the department acquired its first pump engine, a 1925 Seagrave, and points out some of the truck’s features. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...

The Steele County Historical Society's Paul Nelson explores some of the history behind Owatonna’s Mineral Springs and the Land of the Healing Waters. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...

Steve Groening recounts the big Steele County news events of March-April 1916. Among the highlights are the Citizens Party sweeping Owatonna elections, as well as the city voting to become a wet city after two years dry; Minnesota National Guard Company I preparing for possible mobilization; and Steele and Dodge counties partnering to turn the Rice Lake area into a summer resort...

This April will mark the 49th anniversary of one of the worst tornado outbreaks in Minnesota history. April 30, 1967, numerous powerful tornadoes touched down in northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, causing widespread destruction and fatalities, including two in Owatonna...

Pancho Villa attacks the United States and the 1st Minnesota Battalion and 1st, 2nd and 3rd Infantry units, including Steele County residents, are sent to fight. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...

The Steele County Historical Society is hosting a couple of events this week, starting with a women's history month author event on Tuesday, March 29, at 7PM.

We get a look at wedding dresses and wedding traditions through time with the Steele County Historical Society. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio.com each Sunday at noon, with information courtesy of the Rice and Steele county historical societies...

The Minnesota Historical Society has awarded $295,192 in Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants to 34 recipients in 20 counties, according to a press release. The quarterly grants of up to $10,000 were awarded on February 19 and will help nonprofit and educational/tribal organizations preserve and share the history of Minnesota...

Dan Moeckly with the Steele County Historical Society recounts the swarm of tornadoes that struck southern Minnesota on April 30, 1967. New episodes featuring Rice and Steele county history are posted to the KRFO-AM YouTube channel and krforadio...