Robbinsdale Historical Society traces its roots back to 1907, when leading citizens formed the Robbinsdale Library Club. The members began collecting pictures, clippings, and memorabilia related to early Robbinsdale, and looked forward to building a public library for area residents.
Eventually, the Library Club was able to purchase, relocate, and repair a tiny building, formerly a bakery on West Broadway. It became Robbinsdale’s first public library. After opening in 1920, the little library became part of the growing Hennepin County Library system.
Finally, the club’s efforts to build a “real” library came to pass. The little library was moved to make way for a spacious new library building at 4915 42nd Ave. N. When it opened in 1926, it was big enough to hold the club’s growing local history collection and boxes and boxes of books. When a larger library was built nearby in 1977, the club donated the building to the city of Robbinsdale.
Longstanding Library Club members and other local history buffs formed the Robbinsdale Historical Society in 1978, and the club’s collection was passed on to the new organization. Ten years later, the Historical Society moved into its own space in the Historic Robbinsdale Library building, where its collection is on display.
Today the Robbinsdale Historical Society is a valued nonprofit organization, self sustaining, active, and ambitious. Membership dues and tax-deductible contributions are our main source of support.