First National Bank Drive-up c. 1976

The Lyon County Historical Society’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Program is Thursday, April 9 at the Lyon County Museum. Doors open at 5:30 pm. The annual meeting is at 6:00 pm, and the speaker, Dr. Anita Talsma Gaul, is at 6:30 pm. This event is open to the public and light refreshments will be served. The program, “The Road to 1776” is our first program of the year in commemoration of the United States 250th anniversary this year.

About the program: At the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War in 1763, Great Britain and the American colonies were on the best of terms. The war had strengthened their common identity and solidified the bonds of empire. Yet at the same time, the war also planted the seeds of mutual misunderstanding and suspicion. Just thirteen years later, in 1776, the American colonists declared their independence from Great Britain, signaling their intent to permanently break the political bonds between them. What caused the relationship between Great Britain and its American colonies to collapse so rapidly? In this presentation, Dr. Anita Talsma Gaul explains the steps that led from the war that fused the bonds of empire to the war that broke them forever.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member supported organization. The Society, founded in 1934, reactivated in 1954, and incorporated in 1965 operates the Lyon County Museum in downtown Marshall in the former Marshall-Lyon County Library building.

LCHS was active in the early years of Lyon County, but records show it was officially established in June of 1934 by A.P. Rose, the author of the 1912 History of Lyon County book. The Society was “reactivated” on November 18, 1954. At the 1954 meeting, held at the courthouse, the following officers were elected: Bruce Pierard, President; J.E. Conner, Vice President; Mrs. Arthur Freese, Secretary; Charles Chapman, Treasurer; Kermit Huso, C.E. Peterson, and William Beasley. In 1965, the Society was incorporated as a non-profit organization in accordance with state law.

The mission statement of LCHS is: “The purpose of the society shall be the collection, preservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the history of Lyon County and to relate it to the history of the region and the state of Minnesota.” LCHS accomplishes this through the care of the collection, interpretive exhibits, and programming.

LCHS receives funds annually from Lyon County and the City of Marshall for operations/general administration. LCHS also depends on funds through memberships to support the museum. The LCHS membership runs annually or monthly and the levels are: Patron: $25, Supporter: $50, Sponsor: $100, Contributor: $500, Advocate: $750, and Benefactor: $1,000. Membership along with grants, fundraisers, program fees, donations, memorials, and retail sales from the museum’s gift shop support exhibits, programs, and preservation at the Lyon County Museum. Check out our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org for more information on membership. Memberships are accepted on our website through our Square account. Recurring monthly or annual options are available.

The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum’s collection shows the First Northwestern Bank (currently Wells Fargo) in Marshall Drive-Up. There is a flag on the flag pole that has “76” on it. Commemorative flag for the United States Bicentennial in 1976.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.