The former city hall, constructed in 1899-1900 is now this local museum which houses thousands of items from the area and from Luxembourg. Immigrants from Luxembourg founded the city of about 700 people. Also of note is a church constructed in 1869, an interesting cemetery, Main Street, a beautiful city park and bike path. Travel and genealogy data. Admission is free; donations are encouraged.
Hours:
Sundays 1-4p.m.: May 1st through October 31st
By appointment throughout the rest of the year
The museum building was constructed in 1900 at 98 Main Street as the Rollingstone City Hall and Fire Station. At the turn of the century it also served as the city jail. In later years prisoners were transported to Winona and the city offices were moved to a building in Rollingstone Park. The building was purchased by Stoos Electric Co. in 1974. In 1988 the former jail on the lower level was rented to the museum. That year a Minnesota non-profit corporation was formed, and acquisitions could then be donated by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as well as by American citizens. In 1980 the village formed a sister city relationship with Bertrange, exchanges, visits and donations. In the year 1989 the Troaterbattien visited and performed a concert for the benefit of the corporation, at which time extensive restoration was started on the entire building.
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri visited Rollingstone in 1991. A Grand Opening Celebration was held June 22 and 23, 1992. By the year 2000 the final purchase payment was made, most to he restoration was completed, and a day of celebration included tours of the museum, a lunch with visiting dignitaries, an a mass co-celebrated by Diocese of Winona Bishop Bernard J. Harrington, Monsignor Roy E. Literski and Reverend Ed McGrath of Holy Trinity Parish. A procession to the museum followed the mass, where a blessing of the building was performed by the bishop. A pleasant afternoon of socializing and a banquet dinner completed the day. By the year 2006, the museum housed over a thousand items from Luxembourg, and received many visitors from there as well as numerous travelers from other sites.
At the annual Treipenfest in 2006 Rollingstone was honored by a visit to the museum and banquet by the Secretary of State Octavie Modert, Aender Hatz, and Guy Dockendorf, Ministry of Culture, John Ensch, Director of Population, City of Luxembourg and George Calteux, Lloyd Croat, President of the Luxembourg American Cultural Society and his wife Mary Lee, Consul Kevin Ries and Consul General Robert Schaeffer of the United States also attended.
In 2006 the Luxembourg Ambassador Joseph Weyland recognized Rollingstone with a visit. At the present time the museum consists of six areas furnished with a variety of items intended to preserve the cultural heritage of Luxembourg and the immigrants to this country. When started, it was the first and only Luxembourg museum in the United States. The museum motto corresponds to that of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which is "Small and beautiful". Admission is free. Membership is welcome and appreciated from all interested persons. The museum is open all year by appointment, preferably a day in advance, by calling (507) 689-2307
