Beginning Aug. 22, 2020, visitors can once again explore the Oliver Kelley Farm where they can take in the beauty of the historic 1850s farmstead and trails located on the shores of the Mississippi River and get an up close view of the animals and gardens.

The Kelley Farm will be open five Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 22, Sept. 5 & 19, Oct. 10 & 24. The visitor center will be open for bathroom use only. Other indoor spaces, including the historic farmhouse, will remain closed. 

A reduced admission ticket will be available for $8 and can be purchased online or through the box office at 651-259-3015 beginning Aug. 15. A limited number of walk-up tickets will also be available. Last entry is at 3 p.m.

Farm staff will ensure that visitors can engage with the animals in a safe way, answer questions, and share their work on a new victory garden that they have transformed from two acres of interpretive garden. The produce grown from the victory garden is being donated to local food shelf CAER, Community Aid of Elk River. 

For more information visit www.mnhs.org/oliverkelleyfarm. 

MNHS decisions about its remaining sites will be based on several factors: current state rules for reopening indoor venues, requirements for cleaning, social distancing, and limiting capacity, as well as the financial cost of operating the site. In the meantime, these remaining sites will remain temporarily closed past the June 30 date that was announced in April. View an open/close grid.

MNHS is closely monitoring developments related to COVID-19. As MNHS plans scenarios for reopening, we are following recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health and working to ensure the safety and welfare of our guests and workforce.

For more information, visit our website at mnhs.org/covid-19.

About the Oliver Kelley Farm 
The Oliver Kelley Farm, a National Historic Landmark, was the home of Oliver H. Kelley, founder of the Grange, the first successful national farming organization. The 1860s farmstead, modern visitor center and farm lab showcase the story of farming, food and agriculture—past and present. The farm is located at 15788 Kelley Farm Road, 2.5 miles southeast of Elk River on U.S. Highway 10. For more information, visit www.mnhs.org/kelleyfarm.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at mnhs.org.