Many farm families and villages relied on mail-order catalogs for everything from clothing and kitchenware
to tools and carriages. These catalogs soon became known as the "Farmer’s Bible" because of their importance
to families that could not purchase these goods at local general stores or had time to travel to the larger
cities. Visitors can view a variety of goods that customers could purchase from these catalogs.
For more than 150 years, immigrants have made their new homes in Dakota County. As a result, many of our
families started as immigrants to the United States. This exhibit tells the stories of the past immigrants
from Europe and present immigrants from Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines. Immigrants’ customs
and traditions have shaped the culture and communities of Dakota County, helping us appreciate each resident’s
unique background. Various artifacts, including ethnic crafts and clothing, will be displayed, while photographs
first-hand immigrant accounts and will tell the stories of these immigrants.
For early families in Dakota County, cows served three purposes -- meat, milk, and labor. As cities grew, more families
relied on farmers for their dairy. From hand-milking to the milkman, this exhibit tells the story of dairy farming
in Dakota County and shows the dramatic changes in the industry since the county's first settlers.
Though some Dakota County cities had electricity in the late 1800s, most farms were not lit until the 1930s and 1940s.
Come learn about how electricity came to rural Dakota County and see a typical rural kitchen that just received electricity.
Since the 1970s, Hmong refugees have found new homes in Minnesota, including in Dakota County.
Many of these refugees continued to farm as they did in Laos, though all have had to learn American ways of
gardening and farming. This exhibit describes the process from gardening in the fields to selling fruit,
vegetables, and flowers at local Twin Cities markets. It will be on display through August in the Ahlberg
Heritage Center and then will be on exhibit at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. The exhibit will then return
to the Center in September.
Corn and its products remain a staple of the American diet. First cultivated in Mexico and Latin
America, corn made its way to the area now known as the United States. Native Americans found
great use for corn and this appreciation was passed onto European immigrants. This exhibit
showcases the changes in the ways Dakota County residents have grown and harvested corn and the
tools they used, from the first immigrants in the early 1800s to the mid-20th century. Also
learn how important corn remains to us today, as both food and energy.