What to See and Do | Minnesota Historical Society

Visitor center

Discover the history and ecology of the north woods and shop for unique gifts and souvenirs to take home.

Logging camp

See for yourself how the lumberjacks lived and worked.

Paddling Adventures

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River.

Two strong and gentle draft horses will pull a wheeled trolley on a narrated tour of the Forest History Center. Our guides will describe the geology, the landscape, and the human history that make up our 180-acre site.

River wanigan

Discover the moored river "wanigan," a floating cook shack and bunkhouse used by river drivers when moving logs down river to the mills. Access weather permitting.

Fire tower

Keep watch over the forest by climbing the state's only 100-foot fire tower. Learn how rangers spotted fires and communicated where they were burning. Tower open June–October. Tower closed November–May for safety reasons.

Trails

Explore 5 miles of trails plus events and learning programs. See forest management techniques put into practice with learning stations along a half-mile of renovated trails.

Field trips

Students can discover the past, present, and future of Minnesota’s forests at a 1900 logging camp and through action-packed environmental learning programs.