The Cook County Historical Society (CCHS) recognizes that the recent events surrounding the Department of Homeland Security’s "Operation Metro Surge" have significantly impacted our community and the state of Minnesota.

As stewards of history, our mission is to preserve all stories of local experiences for future generations as they unfold.

Starting Thursday, February 5th, we invite you, our community members, to stop by the History Museum or Johnson Heritage Post during our regular hours of operation and write a Letter To Our Future. This is an opportunity to record your emotions, experiences, and stories of these times for future generations, who may look back with curiosity about what people in our day were thinking and doing. We will have plenty of pens and paper. Warm cocoa and tea will also be available to keep things cozy.

We fully respect your privacy. Letters may be anonymous, or you may share as much identifying information as you like. 

All letters will become part of our history collection, but we offer a range of privacy options regarding how and when your letter might be shared. You may write directly into a public journal, which other writers will be able to view right away. Or, we can immediately place your letter in our archives, where it could be viewed on request by researchers. If you desire still more privacy, we will provide an envelope for you to seal, which we will then place in a Letters To Our Future time capsule, to be stored in our archives and not opened for 20 years.

You may also write a letter on your own time and drop it off at either JHP or the History Museum (or mail it to P.O. Box 1293, Grand Marais, MN, 55604) for immediate viewing, accessible by request, or to be placed in the time capsule (please designate which you would prefer). 

You are part of history. Please help us preserve the stories and voices of our community during this moment in time. 

Find the current hours of operation for the Museum here: https://www.cookcountyhistory.org/cook-county-museum

JHP here: https://www.cookcountyhistory.org/johnson-heritage-post-art-gallery