About

Freeborn County was created in 1855 and named after William Freeborn, an early Minnesota pioneer. The area lies on Minnesota's border with Iowa having most of the available land being devoted to agriculture. The terrain is hilly and generally sloping to the south and east.

  • 1

    Historical Museum

    The historical museum showcases over 40 exhibits featuring businesses, destinations, and artifacts. A highlight of the museum features artifacts from the retired actress: Marion Ross. She has starred in the show Happy Days, That 70’s Show, and starred in numerous episodes of Spongebob Squarepants. Marion Ross lived in Albert Lea for most of her youth and the museum not showcases her turquoise truck.

  • 2

    Library

    While the hisotrical museum's main emphasis is Freeborn County history, any historical and genealogical research can be conducted in the library.

    Another great location is the The Albert Lea Public Library that was built in 1899. The library serves the city of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and its neighboring towns. The library has a state-of-the-art computer lab and 20 public access PCs that were updated in 2007. Patrons and visitors can also use the free Wi-Fi service.

  • 3

    Villages

    Albert Lea is the most populous city in Freeborn County with 17,773 residents in 2019. The county itself holds 30,281 resdients.

    In 1835, the town of Albert Lea originally mapped on expeditions by Lieutenant Albert Lea of the US Dragoons. The explorer Nicollet later renamed "Fox Lake", a name that Lea gave, to "Lake Albert Lea" that the settlement and city were subsequently named after.

alternative

★★★★★

"There is a lot of history to see in this small town! The museum is well laid out and has so many things that we could not see it all in the hour and a half we were there. Thank you for the great hospitality! Great and friendly staff. They're always extremely helpful!"

~ Facebook
alternative

★★★★★

"What a fun way to spend a day, check it out! The staff go above and beyond when it comes to their job. You really tell that they love history and are passionate about sharing it too."

~ Sterling Lawyers
alternative

★★★★★

"Having grown up in the area and experience the museum in Albert Lea many times I can tell you it never gets old! I have four children and they each have experience the historical learning experience at the museum and will tell you it was an awesome experience. I can’t wait to experience the museum again since they have remodeled!!!"

~ Google

This site is brought to you by dedicated fans of Freeborn County