Welcome to Where 2havefun in Minnesota, The North Star State
Historical Sites and Museums of Minnesota
Stories of Minnesota's past come to life at these Historic Sites.
Alexander Ramsey House - Saint Paul - French Second Empire - Style Mansion Built in 1872. It was home to the first territorial Governor Alexander Ramsey. Fifteen rooms containing Black walnut wwodwork, Marble fireplaces, Dollhouse and Personal Items. Guided Tours. State Historical Site
American swedish Institute - Minneapolis - Turn of the Century Romanesque Chateau Mansion. Contents include eleven uniquely designed Swedish stoves call Kakelugnar. Museum collections include social and cultural Swedish - American artifacts including Swedish Glass, textiles, home furnishings and art Work
Birch coulee battlefield - Morton - Site of the Indian siege during the Dakota Conflict of 1862. Prairie and coulee settings with very faint remains of Calvary foxholes. Interpretive signs relate the story or the Birch Coulee Battle
Canal Park - Marine Museum - Duluth - Marine Museum exhibiting Great Lakes commercial fishing. Duluth ship Canal and aerial bridge. Operated by the Army Corps of Engineers
Charles A. Lindbergh House - Charles A. Lindbergh State Park - Three Story house containing family Items including a 1916 Saxon automobile. Interpretive center depicts the Lives and careers of the Lindbergh family in Minnesota, notably Charles Sr. Republican congressman, and Charles Jr. famous for the Trans Atlantic solo flight. State Historic Site
Comstock House - Moorhead - Historic home of Solomon G. Comstock, Politician and entrepreneur, and his daughter ada Comstock, the first Dean of women at the University of Minnesota from 1907 to 1912 and president of radcliffe College from 1923 to 1943. Guided Tours
Colonial Hall Museum - Anoka (612)421-0600 - 17 room Colonial Hall (1904) Now a Museum and resource libary for the Anoka County Genealogical & Historical Society
Dakota County Historical Society and Museum - S. Saint Paul - (651)451-6260 - Founded in 1939, One of the Largest county Museums in the State of Minnesota
The Depot - Duluth - Restored Union Depot built in 1892, truly one of the best examples of Chateauesque architecture in the United States. Home of the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, 3 Museums and the Duluth Arts Institute, some of the displays include antique dolls, a walk through tree. Silent Movies, American pressed glass, and apparel of the last 2 centuries. Trolley rides
Farm America - Waseca - The Minnesota Agricultural Interpretive center tells the story of Family Farming, Land and rural development, the people of Minnesota through living history demonstrations and exhibits. a 19th century settlement farm, town hall, and a blacksmith shop. 1920s-to the 30s dairy farm and a 10 acre prairie restoration. Historic vegetable gardens and field crops re-created
Depot Museum - White Bear Lake - (651)426-0479 - Remnants of White Bear Lakes's Railroad day. Restored Northern Pacific Depot dating from the 1930's
The Gammelgarden Museum - Scandia - (651)433-5053 - Buildings from the 1850's & 60s. Open May thru October
Forest History Center - Grand Rapids - Authentically reconstructed 1900 logging camp, with 2.5 miles of interpretive trails. Buildings include cooking and sleeping camps. filers shack, wanigan or foremans office and horse barns. Visitors Center. Forest service cabin. Costumed guides
Fort Ridgley History Center - Fort Ridgely State Park - Defenders of Fort Ridgely earned citations for their actions during the Dakota Conflict of 1862. Restored stone commissary,houses, gift shop, and exhibits explaining the Forts History
Glensheen - Duluth - A 39 room Jacobean style manor, former home of Chester Adgate Congdon, attorney and philanthropist. Built in 1908, with boat and coach houses, bowling green and formal gardens with a gardeners cottage.
Grand Mound and History Center. - 17 miles west of International Falls - Largest prehistorical burial mound in the upper midwest. Formed by the Laurel Indians of the middle woodland people who lived in the upper great lakes latitudes from 200BC to 800AD. Interpretive center relates the story of their adaptation to northern Lake & forest environment. Spring and summer wildflower blooming and bird watching
Grand Portage National Monument - Grand Portage - Monument preserves walking trail linking Lake superior with inland waterways of Canada. Reconstructed stockade or the North west Fur Company provides a view of the Grand Portage life in the early 1700's. Outbuildings include a lookout tower, warehouse and a Kitchen. Birch Bark canoes and full press. Exhibits and audio visual programs in the great hall. Hiking trail to Mount Rose
Harkin Stone - 8 miles west of New Ulm - A restored 1870 store, once a commercial and social center of West Newton. Originally owned by a Community leader Alexander Harkin. Stocked with foodstuffs and farm supplies of the era.
Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center - Moorhead - Primary exhibit is Robert asp's life size model of a Vikings Ship., the Kjemkomst. Take a voyage (chronicled in Photographs) from Duluth to Bergen Norway, with recordings and audio visual presentations. Pioneer artifacts from Clay County
Hinckley Fire Museum - Hinckley - Museum relates the escape and tragedies of the Hinckley fire of 1894. Reconstructed depot features a freight room, beanery, women's and mens waiting rooms, depot agent's office and apartment. relief furnishings, murals and photographs.
Historic Fort Snelling Saint Paul - Restored 19th century Fort built on a Bluff overlooking the Mississippi & Minnesota Rivers. Center of Government policy and administration prior to Minnesota Statehood and a haven for explorers and travelers seeking pretection. Visit our Page about Fort Snelling.
Ironworld USA - Chisholm - Unique mixture of historical and ethnic activities. Iron range Interpretive center. Entertainment daily with big name performers. Different historic periods exhibited throughout the complex. Displays also feature immigration of 43 cultures to Northeast Minnesota
James J. Hill House - Saint Paul - Recently Restored home of the Great Northern Railroad Magnate James J. Hill. Guided tours. State Historical Site
Jeffers Petrogylphs - Saint Paul - Over 2000 carvings discovered on a Quartzite ridge. Petroglyphs date from 2 archaeological eras, Late archaic, early woodland (3000 B.C. to 500 A.D.) and late woodland (900 A.D. to 500 A.D.). Depictions include Native animals, weapons, and spiritual leaders. Exhibit shelter.
Kensington Runestone Museum - Alexandria - 202 pound Greywacke stone believed to be standard Viking Ballast Stone, found in 1898 by Olaf Ohman attached
to roots of an aspen tree. Runic carvings suggest presence of European explorers in North America in 1362.
Lac Qui Parle Mission - 6 Miles South of Milan - Established in 1835 by Fur trader Joseph Renville and protestant missionary and physician Thomas
Williamson. Chapel constructed with the help of the Dakota Indian Women in 1841. Burned down in 1854 and rebuilt in 1941
Lake of the woods County Museum - Baudette - Preserves history of northwest Angle and the Lake of the Woods Region. Natural History exhibit features mica from local deposits. Ojibwe Indians artifacts. Displays on commercial fishing and lumbering industries
Lake Superior Museum of Transportation - Duluth - Enclosed transportation museum housed in a restored Union depot complex.
Collections includes Minnesotas first locomotive, snow plows, cabooses, steam wrecking crane
and over 50 other steam, diesel and electric locomotives. Trolley ride through Historic Duluth
Landmark Center - Saint Paul - Restored Old Federal Courts building cited by American Institute of Architects in 1980. Guided tours reveals intricate and elaborate detailing and construction. White marble
foyers and windows, mosaaic tile courtyard, pillars and skylights
Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum - Walnut Grove - A museum that focuses on the life of Laura Ingalls wilder, author of the Little house books. and on Walnut grove setting for the book On the banks of Plum creek. Collections include Ingalls quilt
letters and family Photgraphs. Replica of the Ingalls home, dishes, clothing and small machinery items.
Lower Sioux agency History Center - Morton - Stone warehouse marks the site of the first Indian attack in the Dakota Conflict of 1862. Visitor center describes the plight of the Dakota Indians
and events leading to the conflict
Lumbertown USA - Brainard - Replica of a 1870's lumbertown, Exhibits include a print shop, general store
saloon, tonsorial shop and syrup mill. Rides aboard a riverboat and railroad train. Wax Museum
Mille Lacs Indian Museum - 8 Miles North of Onamia - Trace the history of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe as they settled along the shores of Mille Lacs Lake
and discover how they have preserved their culture. The Museum features videos, computer interactives,
listening stations and objects from today's culture, showcasing traditions of language, music, dance & art.
Enjoy craft and cooking demonstrations. Shop in the adjacent restored 1930's trading post, where exhibits highlight the area's
early tourist trade when thousands of people stopped to browse while haeding to Northern Minnesota.
Minnesota Historical Society Building - Saint Paul - Rotating and permanent exhibits illustrating various events and life styles in Minnesota history
Extensive collection of Indian and pioneer artifacts. Audio - visual libary and family genealogical resources.
State Capitol Building - Saint Paul - Capitol designed by Cass Gilbert. Built in 1905 of Georgia white marble.
45 minute guided tour includes rotunda, Governor's reception room, House gallery and the State Senate Chamber
North West Company Fur Post - Pine City - Authentically reconstructed British fur post. Original wintering post set up by North west Company to trade with Ojibwe Indians.
Stocked with utensils and barter goods of the Fur Trade business. Costumed guides demonstrate daily activities of voyageurs.
Northfield Historical Society Museum - Northfield - Actual site of the Great Northfield Bank Raid of september 7, 1876. Robbed by the James - Younger
gang. Only Jesse and Frank James escaped the Northfield posse. The bank has been restored to it 1876 appearance
Oliver H. Kelly Farm - Elk River - 189 acre living history farm exemplifies book farming practices of Oliver H. Kelly, founder of the grange
society. Interpretive center, 19th century implements pulled by horses and oxen. Cooking, butterchurning and chore demonstrations. Nature trail through
the prairie to the Mississippi River. National Landmark.
Pipestone National Monument - Pipestone - Monument preserves heritage and culture of The Dakota Indians. Pipestone Indian shrine association sells and exhibits crafts including quill work,
beadwork, basketry and pipes
Sinclair Lewis Interpretive Center - Sauk Centre - Hometown of the first American novelist to win the Nobel prize for literature,
Sinclair Lewis. Novel Main Street candidly portrays the life in Sauk Centre. Guided tours of his boyhood home. Visitor center displays Lewis' novels and memorabilia
Split Rock Light House - Split Rock Lighthouse State Park - Light House commissioned in 1910, in service for 60 years. The history center provides audio-visual presentations, exhibits and a Museum shop.
Turtle Mound - 18 Miles NW of Deer River - Constructed below ground level by the Dakota Indians in the early 1700's. The head and tail oracle originally pointed to their enemy tribe the Ojibwe, Later reversed when the Ojibwe Conquered the Dakota's. It has religious importance to present day Indians
Upper Sioux Agency - 7 Miles NE of Wood Lake - Located near Confluence of Yellow Medicine and the Minnesota River. Established in 1854 to instruct the Dakota Indians on farming methods. Restored brick building is the only remaining structure after
the Indian raid.
Voyageurs National Park - 26 Miles SE of International Falls - 26 Miles SE of International Falls
W.H.C. Folsom House - Taylors Falls - Rare Minnesota example of Greek revival architecture, built by the Maine lumberman W.H.C. Folsom. Mid 19th century
furnishings. Landscaped grounds with a native wildlife garden
W.W. Mayo House - Le Sueur - Small Gothic style house built in 1859, former home of William Worrall Mayo. English Immigrant, doctor and founder of the reknowned
Mayo Clinic in Rochester
Join the community of people who work to make their community better! Speak your mind about injustices in your community,
or offer suggestions to communities that have complaints about their community government committees.
We are excited to announce the addition of a mapping system, where you can put in an address and we will display a Map of that area.
This is a work in Progress, Most areas can be Mapped, Look for more features
Hiking and Bike Trails Minnesota
- Minnesota trails guide, let us show you a vast amount of trails located in minnesota, suitable for biking, hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling and x-country sking.
Minnesota Twins Tickets
- ShowMe Tickets sells tickets for all Twins games. We specialize in providing you with premium and other Twins tickets that are in high demand. We can help you gain access to tickets for all major events.
http://www.2havefun.com is an independent resource, providing fun things to do throughout the United States
Where 2havefun is owned by Crazy Quest, LLC All rights are reserved.
No part of this site may be duplicated, copied or transmitted
in any way, without written permission from 2havefun.com
