Swift County Historical Society

2135 Minnesota Avenue Benson, Minnesota 56215 (320) 843-4467 Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:00am – 3:30pm email: Swiftcountyhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

1871 Historic District #6 Schoolhouse

Annual Quilt and Garden Walk

Wednesday June 24, 2026 2:00pm – 7:00pm

Our Annual Quilt and Garden Walk will be held on Wednesday June 24 from 2:00pm to 7:00pm. This year it will be a rain or shine date, so plan on joining us. One change this year is that you may purchase your tickets and start either at the Benson Golf Club Clubhouse or at the Swift County Historical Museum. As always, the Museum will host the dessert and coffee. Watch for further details, coming soon.

Second Thursday Brown Bag Conversation – America’s 250th – Popcorn & a Video part 4: Cities

Between 1880 and 1930, nearly 24 million new immigrants arrive in the United States. Many go to work building a new frontier: the modern city. The high cost of land in cities like New York and Chicago means the only way to build is up. A new kind of building, the skyscraper, is made possible by steel. Produced on a massive scale, steel production underpins the infrastructure of the modern city.

This new urban frontier depends on the labor of rural migrants and newly arrived immigrant workers to grow.  Powered by steel and electricity, the city begins to be tamed and defined by mass transportation, stunning skylines, electric light…and the industrious American spirit.

6th Annual Memorial Day Program and Recognition of Veterans – Thursday May 21 at 7:00pm

Our annual Memorial Day Program and Program honoring our Veterans, living and no longer so, will be held on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00pm. Our program speaker will be Mike Hoffman, Swift County Chief Deputy Sheriff and VFW Post 1403 Commander. We will have special music by members of the Society Chorale, and we will honor all of the Veterans who are able to be with us for the evening, and well as remember those who are no longer living. For more information, please contact the Swift County Historical Society at (320) 843-4467.

“The Music of America” Sunday, June 7, 2026 2:00pm Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church – Benson. The Historical Society Chorale, the Octet and the Trio will sing American music from the Revolutionary War period to the late 20th Century to celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States of America.