Explore the history museum. Our permanent exhibits include:
The Public Safety Exhibit honoring Fridley’s police, fire, and emergency responders.
The Military Exhibit to remember our community members who served this great nation.
A redesigned 1965 Tornado Display showing the destruction and aftermath.
Embers Restaurant display in our basement meeting room.
**Please be assured that we have safety protocols in place for your protection.
Staggered entry of visitors may be required to ensure social distancing and sanitation**
Upcoming Events
**Next Open House: April 27, 11am-3pm**
Open House every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month from 11am-3pm (April – December)
Board Meeting
The Board of Directors meets at the History Center on the first Thursday of every month at 6:00 p.m.
Tornado Presentation – DVDs of the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Tornadoes Program are available at the Fridley History Center for $10.00.
Fridley Historical Society & Museum 
Nice, very nice………….and very exciting!
Wonderful exhibit! Like I was back in time. The tree was my favorite part. And right upstairs I was able to enjoy the stories of the 1965 Fridley tornadoes. I am embarrassed having just discovered this museum today after living in Fridley for so many decades. I will be back!!
Glad you found us David – share this hidden gem of a little museum with your friends and come and join us for some of our great 2015 community events.
I need a clarification regarding the original Cub Foods in 1968. I remember that Fridley was the first Cub Foods on Osborne Rd across from Bobs Produce. I have read that it was first built in Stillwater but I also know the original owners were FROM Stillwater. Can you clarify ?
Thanks
Frank, thanks for the questions. I will bring it to the board and hope to get an answer back to you soon.
The owners were from Stillwater. (Hooey Brothers) But, yes the first Cub Foods opened in 1968 off of 47 and Osborne . In 1980 the company was bought by Supervalu. After the Northtown Cub Foods opened in 1983 the Fridley one closed.
Hi Frank, you are right ~ the original owners were from Stillwater, but the first Cub Foods was in Fridley on Osborne Road, and it was similar to what Sam’s is now with the flat bed carts and large quantities, but you had to use a black marker to write the price on your items. Anyhow, after they had presented the Fridley Historical Society with a generous donation during their ribbon cutting ceremony when they had their Grande Re-opening in Fridley (which the manager had made the decision to give us because of the history Cub Foods had with Fridley), I went on their website to thank them again publicly. It was there that I noticed the inaccuracy of their posted history, and I did write them about it.
In researching other items in history, I have noticed that not all accounts are exactly the same. This probably happens because of perspective of those who lived it or because of the ones who heard the stories retell them inaccurately.
Thanks for the question, Frank.
I am so looking forward to the Tornado program! See you there!
If we want to write a check to purchase the books would we make the check out to the historical society or Allen Taylor? Can they be purchased the night of the anniversary presentation? Thanks in advance 🙂 !
They can be purchased the night of the anniversary presentation
Dear Jennifer,
You will be able to purchase Al Taylor’s tornado books the night of the event, and he will be happy to autograph them. Please make the checks payable to Al Taylor, and he will donate a percentage to the Fridley Historical Society.
See you on May 6th.
WANTED……ARTIFACTS OF THE 1965 TORNADOES AND THEIR STORIES As part of this historic 50th anniversary year of the tornadoes, we are putting together a permanent exhibit at the Fridley History Center. We are hoping that if anyone in the area would have an artifact they would like to donate, please bring it to the History Center, along with your name and address and a short story about it. These donations will add a lot of interest to the exhibit, will be handled gently, and will be carefully placed in a locked display case for everyone to see. Thank you very much!
Do you remember the name of a smorsgasbord in 1968 that was located near Moore Lake. We had our class picture in sixth grade taken there. Trying to remember the restaurant’s name… Thank you for your help.
I think it was called King’s Chalet.
DVDs of the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Tornadoes Program will be available at the Fridley History Center as of Saturday, May 23rd…..$10……and, if need to be mailed $15.
~ MANOMIN ON THE MISSISSIPPI TOUR & LUNCH ~
Anyone interested in coming along on the Manomin on the Mississippi Fridley River History Tour and Lunch on Sunday, June 28 from 11-3, please call the Fridley Park and Recreation Center @ (763)572-3570 or go on line FridleyMN.gov to register. $23 for tour and lunch. The Fridley Historical Society is excited to co-sponsor this history tour which will conclude Fridley’s ’49er Days Festival. Learn of Fridley’s history and stories told by residents in full costume, portraying early settlers. Step back in time aboard a vintage, classic Twin Cities transit bus. The tour will include narrated stops along the way, ending with lunch at the historic Riedel House located in Riverfront Park. The bus departs and returns to the Fridley History Center, 611 Mississippi St., Fridley. Come and view the many History Center exhibits 1/2 hour before and after the tour, including the commemorative display of the 1965 tornadoes.
Hi,
Would like to get your 50th anniversary DVDs on the 1965 Tornadoes mailed to me, who can I contact ?
Thanks, Mike Brighton. Toledo, Ohio
Hi Mike,
I am the contact person, and I’d be happy to send you a DVD of the 50th Anniversary Program. Just write a check for $15 to the Fridley Historical Society, and mail it to the Fridley History Center at 611 Mississippi St., Fridley, Mn. 55432. I will send a DVD to your address in Toledo, Ohio.
Thanks for your order.
Dorothy Gargaro
Thanks Dorothy
We were talking at work today about Holly Shopping Center can you tell me the name of the grocery store that was there? I shopped there as a child was is Pennys? Also there was a little dress shop what was the name of that store. Thanks I loved that little mall as a child, the pet store was so fun.
There was Piggy Wiggly before Penny’s, and I think the dress store was Liebs perhaps? Hope that helps?
Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles as long as
I provide credit and sources back to your site?
My website is in the very same area of interest as yours
and my visitors would really benefit from some of
the information you provide here. Please let me know if this alright with you.
Many thanks!
Beverly’s was another dress shop in Holly Center in the early 60s.
We really enjoyed our visit today and touring the history center, thanks for a great 80s Christmas exhibit.
Will you post a few pictures of Footlighters paybill programs on the Fridley Historical Center Facebook page for us to see. In particular two plays I remember. The Martian, and Diary of Anne Frank.
Thank you.
Katie
Former Fridleyite
Residing South Minneapolis now
I left a VM earlier today, 02/13/2020 regarding a color enhanced slide I found recently in our archives collection.
Dairy wagon with driver . North Pole Dairy Company/C. A. Nelson Company both Fridley, MN . Circa early 1900’s .
If you’re interested message Edina Morningside Church Historian at historian.church@gmail.com or call 612.875.7893 .
What was the name of the Men’s store-
(shirts, slacks, sweaters, sport coats)
in Holly Center in the 1960’s? Do you have
pictures of Holly Center in the 1960’s?
I don’t recall the name, but I remember my parents bought me clothes there.
I believe the men’s store was call Fox Men’s Clothing?
Any history of the sulivan farm in fridley located off Central Ave and or Filmore street please forward to djwojtowicz2@gmail.com thanks
Hi. I found a map in the library of Congress showing where i live in Fridley. In 1887 it was part of a 150.55 parcel owned by John Gotwald. Been searching online for information about him but not finding anything. Does the history society or readers have any insight on this gentleman?
Thanks