Nestled within the quaint town of Alexandria, Minnesota, lies an enigmatic artifact that has captivated the imagination of scholars and enthusiasts for over a century—the Kensington Runestone. Discovered in 1898 by Swedish immigrant Olof Ohman, the runestone has sparked intense debate over its authenticity and origin, shedding light on its profound significance in shaping the […]
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Visiting the Northwest Angle with my aunt Fay Sobottka and my mom (Denise Jorgensen) was an adventure. This remote area in northern Minnesota is a result of a boundary dispute between the U.S. and Canada, making it the northernmost point of the contiguous United States. Accessible only through Canada, it boasts […]
The Minnesota Governor’s Fishing Opener is a unique time to explore areas that otherwise I may have missed. Enter, the Historic Phelps Mill and County Park. The beautifully preserved mill was initially built 1888–1889, along with a wooden dam, by William E. Thomas, a local entrepreneur who owned a flour and feed business in Fergus […]
Growing up in Minnesota, I spent most of my time in the Northwoods. My parents were adamant about safety, education, and conservation. We were required to take DNR courses on things like lawful hunting and fishing, and recreational vehicle and firearm safety. Enter, Mantrap Valley Conservation Club and Auxiliary. The MVCC is a favorite in […]
Guest Post: Did you know that Minnesota became the 32nd state of the union on May 11, 1858? Did you also know that I came into the world, meant to usher in travelers to the Two Harbors area, 101 years later? It’s true! You can’t make this stuff up! Since everyone else is telling you […]
If you are like me, you are longing to patron your favorite places, especially those that feel like a home away from home. That is the Minnesota History Center (and Historical Society) for me. I was lucky enough to head to the basement during graduate school to see all the incredible artifacts for archival research. […]
Lake Superior Railroad Museum is located in downtown Duluth, in the platforms yard of the original Historic Union Depot, built in 1892, now the Saint Louis County Heritage and Arts Center’s Historic Union Depot. The Depot also houses the Duluth Art Institute, Duluth Playhouse, the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and the Saint Louis County Historical Society. […]
Just north of St. Peter on U.S. Hwy. 169 is the Treaty Site History Center, the headquarters of the Nicollet County Historical Society. The site’s exhibits explore the history of Nicollet County and Minnesota’s territorial expansion. It also tells the story of the Dakota people, the first explorers, cartographers, traders, and Euro-American settlers. Formerly a […]
The Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum is part of the former Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children in Owatonna. The “State School” was created by an act of the Minnesota legislature in 1885 as an effort to provide safe, transitional housing for the state’s orphaned, abandoned and abused children who had […]
This year, Albert Lea hosted the Minnesota Governors Fishing Opener. Now in its 72nd year, it is the kickoff to the Minnesota summer tourism season. The #MNGFO has been a tradition in since 1948. Put on through the partnership of Explore Minnesota Tourism and the host community, the event helps to showcase the city and […]
A few months back, I had posted Explore Minnesota’s Minnesota Bucket List. I had nearly every box checked with the exception of the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota. During the #MNGFO2019, I was finally able to check it off my list! SPAM, if you aren’t familiar, is a brand of canned cooked pork made by […]
If you are looking for a day trip away from the city, I suggest planning a trip to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha. Beginning in 1989, the now-center started as EagleWatch, Inc. as a group of volunteers sharing with visitors to Wabasha views of wintering bald eagles from an outdoor observation deck along the […]
I like to go off the beaten path and in this case, it means venturing off I-35 to meander through the smaller, less trafficked towns. Askov, off Highway 23 in Pine County is one of such towns. Home to the annual Askov Fair and Rutabaga Festival, the town was originally the Village of Partridge, initially […]
Judy Garland Museum has been a must-stop for travelers and locals alike since 1975. For those unfamiliar, Francis Gumm who would later become Judy Garland is the jewel of Grand Rapids. She is the star of Wizard of Oz, MGM’s 1939 film that has been seen by over 3 billion people and continues to be […]
Now that we are faced with darker, shorter days and soon-to-be-dropping temperatures, I have started looking for things to do that keep me inside. Summers in Minnesota are meant to be lived outside and I save anything indoors for the chillier months. With that, I found the Rourke Art Museum in Moorhead to keep me […]
Moorhead holds an incredible, unique, not-so-well-kept secret that you have to see in person to believe. The Hjemkomst, meaning homecoming in Norwegian, is a handmade replica of a burial Viking ship called the Gokstad that was discovered in Norway in 1880. The Gokstad had been unearthed from a burial mound near Sandefjord, Norway and was […]
During the #MNGPHO2018, I headed over the Rock County Veterans Memorial Building which houses Brandenburg Gallery, and the Luverne Chamber of Commerce, and the Herreid Military Museum. The Herreid opened in July 2009 and is located on the third level of the four-story former jail. Floors filled with stories, photos, videos, artifacts, memorabilia, and dioramas […]
Blue Mounds State Park is in Rock County near the town of Luverne. Named for the linear escarpment of Precambrian Sioux Quartzite bedrock you can see protruding from the prairie polka-dotting the landscape. The old quartzite quarries in the park were owned and operated by the Luverne Granite Company. The stone was used to construct […]
When I headed down to Luverne for the Minnesota Governor’s Pheasant Hunting Opener (#MNGPHO2018), I had no idea what to expect. As soon as I got into town, I heard a stranger say to his companion, “Did you see all the nutcrackers at the History Center? We should go there.” I immediately turned my eavesdropping […]
After I went to Big Bog State Recreation Area, I decided I had to see Willie Walleye, the 40-foot, 2 ½ ton fiberglass fish in Baudette. I am a purveyor of all things roadside attractions so taking a trip to see the famed “symbol of the Lake of the Woods” was a must. The idea […]
