The Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce originated in 1882 as a Board of Trade with H. J. Spencer as president.

During the years from 1905 to 1914, the organization operated as Brainerd Commercial club with Con O'Brien, R. R. Wise, A. J. Halsted and Carl Zapffe as presidents. The name was changed to Brainerd Chamber of Commerce in 1914, and until 1921, the organization was headed by G. P. Sheridan, R. R. Wise, H. I. Cohen, J. A. Thabes, Sr., F. H. Simpson and D. D. Schrader.

Another name change -- Civic and Commerce association -- began an era lasting from 1922 to 1939, with a list of presidents too long to list individually. From 1939 to 1953, it became the Brainerd Civic association with the first full-time manager appointed in 1945.

From 1954 through last year, 1970, the organization operated as the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce. The form of a Brainerd AREA Chamber of Commerce had been followed for several years, then was officially adopted and incorporated with a sweeping change of the by-laws in 1970.

Under the new set-up, officers include a president and vice president as managing officers with other vice presidents in charge of treasury, membership and tourism, along with eight directors.

Present membership in the Area Chamber is approximately 360 member firms and associates with 33 member firms from outside the City of Brainerd. More than 20 past presidents of the organization are still active as a Hospitality committee, meeting and greeting new business people in the area. The local organization has more young directors and officers than most communities who receive assistance from the older members.

Quarters for the Chamber have varied from the City hall to the Iron Exchange building and other locations, culminating in the present building on Sixth and Washington dedicated in 1967. A year-round staff includes an executive vice president and secretary with several part-time employees serving during tourist seasons.

The Area Chamber of Commerce is involved in many things: Industrial development, tourism, United Fund, city and urban affairs, working closely with retailers through B-Pac (Brainerd Promotional Activities committee).

The Chamber has sponsored a number of community programs such as seminars on control of shoplifting and bad check passing; training sessions for employees snowmobile safety school, an annual banquet and Resort Caravan among the projects.

For a number of years, the Chamber has worked with the resort group, Brainerd Paul Bunyan Vacationland, in handling needs of visitors to the area. During a 10-week period each summer, some 30,000 or more people pass through the Chamber office seeking information on the area.

In addition, traffic is increasing year-round as Brainerd becomes more of an attraction through snowmobiling, road racing and other recreational activities. Several thousands of letters and packets of information are distributed annually to people considering relocating in this area. Retailing in Brainerd has grown from $48 million in 1963 to $63 million in 1970. From the Board of Trade in 1882 to the Brainerd Area Chamber of Commerce in 1971, the immediate and long-range goals of the organization have remained literally the same: To take appropriate action as needed regarding civic affairs in any way possible to improve the area as a place to live, work and play.