Otter Tail Historical Society Unveils 2026 Exhibit Schedule and Call

The Otter Tail County Historical Society is closing out its 2025 gallery season with A Christmas Village, A Collection Belonging to Theodore Zitzow, on display through January 9, 2026. The show is listed as Show #6 in the society’s recent schedule. After the holiday exhibition, the Dunlap Room gallery will be closed for scheduled changeover and maintenance from January 12 through January 23, 2026.

The society’s 2026 season opens January 27 with THE GREAT EMIGRATION, a long-run exhibit scheduled to run through June 6, 2026. Organizers frame the exhibit in the context of growing local interest in the bicentennial of Norwegian emigration, signaling a season that will emphasize regional immigration history and related public programs.

These rotating exhibits and the society’s traveling displays serve as a cultural hub for Fergus Falls and surrounding communities. The society’s programming draws visitors and artists from across Otter Tail County, including Fergus Falls, Perham, New York Mills, and Battle Lake, and supports local heritage education, gallery events, and potential off-site partnerships. The January changeover will temporarily limit gallery access but prepares the space for an extended exhibit that may anchor community events through early summer.

The historical society is actively inviting exhibit proposals for the 2026 season. Submission requirements include an artist statement, a resume, and 3 to 5 representative images accompanied by an image checklist. Curatorial questions and submissions are directed to Kathy Evavold, Curator of Collections. The museum’s physical address is 1110 Lincoln Ave W, Fergus Falls; phone and email contact information for general inquiries and submissions are maintained by the society.

For local artists and cultural organizations, the open call represents both opportunity and a prompt to engage with county heritage programming. The schedule and submission process establish a clear timeline for artists seeking gallery exposure and for schools, civic groups, and local historians planning events around the spring and summer cultural calendar.

As the society transitions between exhibits in January, residents and stakeholders should note the temporary closure dates and the long run of THE GREAT EMIGRATION, which promises to be a focal point for bicentennial-related attention and countywide programming in the first half of 2026.