Big Stone County Museum & Charles Hanson Wildlife Display of Taxidermy

Welcome to the Big Stone County Museum!  

A FANTASTIC find in the middle of nowhere western Minnesota

We visited in late March 2025.  When we called the main number, an old voice message said to call Larry to verify access to the museum.  When I called Larry, we were lucky that he was popping into the museum that morning, and he agreed to meet us.  I think he was charmed by our kiddo, because he gave her . . . uh, I mean us . . . the grand tour.  Ran the train, turned on the old carnival displays, opened doors leading deeper into the museum.  Also took us out to look around the old school house, the amazing Charles Hanson taxidermy collection, and the little church where he let our daughter ring the steeple bell attached to a rope.  Pretty special

I took a TON of pictures, and didn't go through and color/clarity edit them all, so they are what they are.  Believe it or not, I could have taken ten times as many pics  

Click on any of the pictures to expand them

Go check it all out!  Best of luck if you make the trip.  Be sure to check out the Ortonville Public Library if you bring the kids

Big Stone County Museum

985 US Highway 12

Ortonville, MN  56278

Museum Phone (320) 839-3359

bscmuseum@outlook.com  

Special recognition has to be given for the Charles Hanson Wildlife Display of Taxidermy.  Walking in is truly mind blowing.  Read the attached article to learn more 

  

  

  

On to the museum proper . . . 

  

  

  

  

  

You could scare the living hell out of somebody with this

  

  

The well preserved school house.  If it's not open, make sure to ask for access. It's pretty sweet

    

This piece written while listening to: Jesse malin- "The Fine Art of self destruction"