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Explore Stanley Area History

The Stanley Area Historical Museum is located in a beautifully preserved, two-story old schoolhouse. Inside, you'll find exhibits dedicated to the rich history of Stanley and the surrounding area.

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Don't miss the adjacent Farming & Logging Building, home to a large collection highlighting the vital contributions of the lumbermen and farmers who settled and grew this region. Be sure to learn about the Northwestern Lumber Company — the enterprise that put Stanley on the map.​​

Featured Exhibits

​​Each year, we introduce special rotating displays alongside our comprehensive ongoing exhibits covering topics like:

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  • The 1906 Stanley Fire

  • Churches and Early Industries

  • Harness Maker, Military, and School History

  • The Movie Theater and Railroad

  • Toys and Wildlife

 

Get a preview of the museum by watching our slideshow below. We invite you to visit soon and see these artifacts in person!

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Can't visit during our summer season?

 

If our regular weekend hours during the summer months don't work for you, stop by from 9–11 a.m. on Tuesdays, October through December, weather permitting. Or just call us to arrange a tour appointment:

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Northwestern Lumber Company

Get a sneak peek in the slideshow here, and then stop in to check out our exhibit featuring the history of the Northwestern Lumber Company — the most important business to ever operate in Stanley.

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The beginning of this huge enterprise began in 1890 with the clearing of land to the northwest of the present downtown area of Stanley. A dam first had to be built on the Wolf River to provide a needed pond for a lumber mill, which later would become Chapman Lake. The construction of many needed buildings followed to create a mill that employed hundreds of people.

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You're invited to learn more about this important part of our history by spending time looking at dozens of photos — many unseen before — and soaking in the history through signage. Find out details about the entire operation of the huge mill, from beginning to end and after. You'll also learn about Porter Mills, the hot pond, the Red Row Houses, the water boy, the company store, and the steam engine that could pull 16 loads of logs through the woods without a railroad track. Included is history about the S.M. & P Railroad that began in Stanley and traveled north as far as Wallrath carrying both logs and people.

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