Historical societies are there to help

-- Crow wing County Historical Society, 320 Laurel St., Brainerd.

The museum offers research archives and artifact displays, tours of the former county jail and collections, along with a gift shop. Open year round, museum winter hours are 1-5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Summer hours, which begin Memorial Day, are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Other research times or tour times may be made by appointment.

For more information, call 829-3268.

-- Crow Wing State Park.

Located just eight miles south of Brainerd off Highway 371 South, the park offers a step into history through informative panels of the early days of Old Crow Wing and the restored Clement Beaulieu house -- all located on a park complex used for picnics, hiking and cross-country skiing. The park is open year round.

Activities planned for summer include the Annual Crow Wing Canoe Days and Fur Trade Encampment on June 6 and the summer interpretive program series.

For more information, call 829-8022.

-- Crosslake Area Historical Society and Historic Log Village, Crosslake.

The Village and Museum open Saturdays and Sundays beginning May 29. The museum includes a replica of the first Crosslake store and a variety of log buildings and artifacts from early homestead days. Two log structures from Lumbertown are in the process of restoration as an early resort cabin and a blacksmith shop.

Society projects include a popular annual fund raising event -- a tour of log homes set for July 29 and 30.

-- Cuyuna Country Heritage Preservation Society, Crosby.

Involved in recording oral histories, preserving photos and information about the area, the society has also published books about the region and continues to work to publish histories. Volume one of the book, "Cuyuna Country: A Peoples' History" is on schedule for a summer printing. The group meets at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Hallett Library.

-- Cuyuna Range Historical Society Museum, Soo Depot, Crosby.

Located one block north of Main Street on Hallett Avenue, the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June through August. The museum includes artifacts from early area residents and an extensive collection of iron mining history.

For more information, call 546-6178.

-- Minnesota Military Museum at Camp Ripley, Little Falls.

Through Memorial Day, the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Summer hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday between June 2 and Sept. 5.

Group tour appointments may be arranged by calling (320) 632-7374.

-- Nisswa Caboose Society, Nisswa.

The historic depot complex opens for the summer season on Memorial Day weekend. Society volunteers are active in video recording of personal interviews.

-- Pequot Lakes Area Historical Society, Pequot Lakes.

The society is a new addition to the lakes area. The board meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month at the Cole Memorial Building.

-- Wadena County Historical Society, Wadena.