The McLean County Historical Society Museums include a variety of buildings and displays.  Click the photo below to learn more about each piece of history.  Also take a look at the Lewis & Clark Mural on an outside wall next to the original museum. 

 Main Building
Exhibits in the main building, including in the expansion, include:

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Original Building
       The original museum, called the Fred Jefferies Building, was built in 1905 as the McLean County Courthouse.  It contains numerous exhibits as listed below, and houses an old print shop in the attached former fire hall/former jail, with equipment from the Washburn Leader newspaper. 

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      Joseph Henry Taylor, a Quaker from Pennsylvania, was a trapper and hunter who was also scholarly and had a great interest in nature. He had served in the cavalry of the Union Army and one year as an Indian fighter. 
      He staked his claim in 1871 and built his cabin at Painted Woods in 1869.  A printer by trade, he wrote 4 books and numerous newspaper articles during his 40 years of pioneering in North Dakota.  He was the editor of the Washburn paper, the McLean County Mail. 
     The Taylor cabin was moved to Washburn in 1932 for Washburn's 50th anniversary and for preservation and exhibit.  It is located in the 1000 block of East Main Avenue, next to the Medcenter One clinic. 

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      Located at Riverside Park in Washburn along the river, the Sioux Ferry was one of the last ferries used on the Missouri River.  It was built by Oscar Anderson in about 1950.  It ran for 10 years from 1952 until 1962, when it was closed down because of navigation problems. The Sioux could transport three cars at one time.  Part of the history of Washburn and the river, this ferry is a permanent display at the park. 

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     The old school was Nettle Creek, built in 1882.  It was moved into town in 1950 from the Lechner (Doepke ) farm,  through efforts of Mrs. W. K Williams.  To the northwest of the School house are several pieces of old farm machinery. 

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      Local Washburn artist Bill Reynolds created a mural of Lewis and Clark’s stay at Fort Mandan. Located on Main Street, adjacent to the two McLean County Historical Museums, the mural is colorful and detailed and located in the heart of business activity in Washburn.

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