Museums

The Pavek Museum houses the ultimate collection of electronic communication.

Opened in 1988, the Pavek preserves the history and technology of electronic communication and provides education on the science of electromagnetism and sound. It features over 12,000 sq. ft. of antique radios, televisions and broadcast equipment, making it one of the largest and finest collections of its kind in the world. Much of the collection came from Joe Pavek, one of the museum’s founders and namesake. But donations from area radio and TV stations have enabled the museum to continue to expand its offerings, creating a historically significant, permanent and living repository. The Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame is also housed here. The Pavek is a popular attraction for families, school groups, and other group tours.

The Golden Valley Historical Society was established in 1974 to preserve and celebrate the history of the City of Golden Valley, Minnesota. The Society operates both the Golden Valley History Museum and The Little Church in the Valley, an historic church that can be rented for weddings. The museum’s current exhibit entitled “Golden Valley: No Place Like Home,” presents the history of Golden Valley from pre-European contact to today. The topics of more than twenty displays include natural history, Native American life, and early pioneer families. Twentieth century topics include Golden Valley High School, the first Byerly’s Foods, Golden Valley Garden Club, Ewald Bros. Dairy, Golden Valley Fire Department, civil rights and human rights, and game-changing inclusiveness in city leadership. In 2020, the Museum received an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History for the exhibit. The museum is open on Saturdays from 11 am – 3 pm.

The St. Louis Park Historical Society was founded in April 1971 by Marie Hartmann, a lifelong citizen of the Park. The Society’s goal was to discover, preserve and disseminate knowledge about the history of St. Louis Park. Much of the Society’s collections, including their bound volumes of the Dispatch newspaper, are housed at their current office, at 3546 Dakota Ave S, Suite C. The office is typically open on Saturdays from 1 – 4 pm.

The Society also owns and operates the Historic Milwaukee Road Depot. Built in 1877, the Depot of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad was originally located south of the railroad tracks at 36th Street and Alabama. When the railroad discontinued service in 1968, Marie led a campaign to save the Depot. The Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and, in 1970, the Depot was moved to its current location in Jorvig Park (6210 W 37th St). The Depot retains items pertaining to the railroad, is occasionally open to the public, and can be rented for special events.