Our mission is to gather, preserve and share the stories of all the people and communities that are part of Anoka County.
The Anoka County Historical Society is an inclusive organization accountable for presenting and celebrating both the told and untold stories of Anoka County. We invite people to join us on this journey to ignite curiosity about the past and to understand our shared experiences.
To me, sitting down and pumping a hundred-year-old player piano is the closest I'll ever come to actual time travel. Being able to play a piano roll just as it would have been played when manufactured long ago is a powerful experience. And, since player pianos allow the operator to control the dynamics of the music, I get to be involved in the artistry of the song as the piano reads the roll. This makes for a very immersive experience! I grew up with a player piano that was owned by my grandparents. They purchased several rolls with popular Disney songs of my childhood to share with me. Hearing songs from The Lion King and Charlie Brown planted the seed for my interest in mechanical music at a young age. Now, as an adult , my interest in these interests is multi-faceted. As a full-time restorer, I have the privilege of bringing heirloom pianos back to life for families that will pass their treasured instruments to their younger generations, just like my grandparents did with me. I also get an inside look at how these pianos were designed and manufactured, uncovering secrets that haven't seen the light of day since the piano left the factory - each piano that comes through my shop is unique in this way, and I get to become part of that pianos story and journey. And as a steward of my own piano roll and piano collection, I have had a first hand look and listen to the evolution of popular music and pianos from the Edwardian era and beyond the 1960's. I have really enjoyed being able to dive into the past through old songs and their lyrics, discovering music that is certainly old but very new to me.
We’re taking history beyond the dates you memorized in high school and finding context for those community stories. What does it mean to hold the keys to a Century farm? How does living as a teenager today compare to the past? When do immigrants become established legacy families? Who do we call neighbors and friends?
Whether inside the classroom or the museum; out and about during festivals, social events, or conducting oral histories, the Anoka County Historical Society ties tales of the past to the lived experiences of the present — all while looking to the future.
#MyrtleMonday Object Id: 2005.1361.006
It pays to stop the train now and again to reflect on the flurry of activity at ACHS. What worked? What didn’t? Where can we grow? How can we better serve our community and members? What are we busting our buttons on with pride?
In 2023 we kept pace with our digital programming offerings, moving into year three of History 21: The Podcast, and digitizing our winter program series. Check out the new shows available, special subscriber content in History 21: The Vault, and where off-site exhibits landed in the community.
Intrigued? Find out more below!
