Ostlund Homestead

August Ostlund (1844-1928) and Margaret Anderson Ostlund (1848-1930), came to Crow Wing County from Sweden and built this log home shortly after 1892 where they raised seven children. The home was moved to its present site on the museum grounds where it was restored and furnished by volunteers.

Dempsie House

Original Ideal School, erected in 1897, used as a school until 1904 when new Ideal School was built at site of present Ideal Fire Hall. This building donated to the Crosslake Historical Society by the family of Theron E. Dempsie and moved to the museum grounds in 1994. The school bell rings again in the recreated turn of the century school house.

Heath Homestead

The Heath homestead was build by Rufus Heath in the early 1900's six miles east of Pine River on County Road 15. This log home was lived in by the Heath family until about 1928 when a new home was built on the homestead. The building was purchased by the Historical Society and moved onto the museum grounds in 1994, where it is now, the "Loggers Camp".

Saloon

The Saloon is a replica of a saloon that loggers would retreat to on their time off from work.

Tourist Cabin

Originally from Lumbertown USA, this cabin is a representation of the tourist industry that came after the logging industry.

Livery

This building is a work in progress that will house two old buggies, and the old historic mail boat.

Town Hall

The first Crosslake town hall, built in 1923. The last official meeting was held there in March of 1950. The building stood vacant for many years until donated to the Historical Society by Nathalie Swann and moved to the museum grounds in 1980 where it now houses a collection of donated artifacts pertaining to the area.

In 1977, with the closing of Lumbertown, the Madden Family gifted the Crosslake Historical Society with two small log buildings. The structure pictured above is our early tourist cabin and the other log structure is an early saloon.

Crosslake Store

The first store built in Crosslake by Charlie Heath, in 1904, was located at the intersection of Highway3 and 37. Later owners were Cole & Co. of Pequot in 1916; Pete Newman and then A. L. Stimson of Tama, Iowa. The store was moved to the present site of Andy's Restaurant.

Stimson built a new store at that site in 1926. He sold to his son-in-law, Maurice Swann, in 1930. Maurice Swann, along with his son, ran the store for 30 years and then sold it to John and Albin Andolshek.

The Crosslake post office was located at the Crosslake store for many years.

The building has undergone many changes but remains standing in downtown Crosslake.

A replica of the 1904 Crosslake Store was built on the museum grounds in 1998. We invite you to step through the old screen door into the early days of this booming logging community!

As forests were logged out - a new industry grew - tourism flourished. The earliest resorts often know as camps, began welcoming guests in the early 1900's. Many third and fouth generation descendants are still enjoying the beautiful lakes and woods. Tourism continues to be our primary industry.

We have seen many changes through the years - six churches, many new retail businesses, City Hall (we became a city in 1972), large Corp of Engineers camping area, a city park and recreational buildings, new telephone building, a new post office, three banks and still growing! This is Crosslake - still the beauty spot of Minnesota!