From hands-on Native Arts workshops to guided walking tours of the longest stretch of Victorian mansions remaining in the country, the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) welcomes all to learn and enjoy Historic Adventures at its sites and museums. 

Visitors can create their own adventure or join the sites for exciting and engaging programs, hands-on activities, demonstrations, music, performances and more. Full details, including site hours, locations and admissions at www.mnhs.org/visit. New events are being added weekly. Here’s a sampling of what visitors can expect.

Historic Forestville - Join staff for guided hikes that go beyond Main Street to explore more of Forestville’s past; hear from Harley Davis as he portrays 1st Lieutenant Henry S. Bassett of Co. K, 6th Minnesota to share about the Civil War at Forestville on May 29; enjoy a summer concert series kicking off on June 11 with a Barn Dance; connect with fellow equine enthusiasts an an ongoing series of programs; learn about the history of fly fishing in Southeast Minnesota on June 18; and, take in the performance "Ladies Business: 1869,” portraying Henrietta Turner’s dress shop and school on June 25.

Historic Fort Snelling - In addition to daily programming such as demonstrations, guided tours and talks, enjoy live outdoor music and performances at the new Klas Overlook featuring a stunning backdrop of the Wakpa Tanka/Mississippi River and the Minneapolis downtown skyline; learn from nationally-renowned authors and historians as they present on a variety of topics related to the history of the area; check out documentary film screenings; and, enjoy family-friendly programming including children’s book release events and hands-on, arts-and-crafts projects.

James J. Hill House - St. Paul’s Summit Avenue is the longest stretch of Victorian mansions remaining in the country. Join Summer Walking Tour Guides as they talk about the architecture, social history, and preservation issues of the historic neighborhood.

Mill City Museum - In addition to ongoing exhibits, hear live music in the ruin courtyard with a very special concert “Soul of the Cities” presented by The Avant Garde on June 9. Enjoy an eclectic mix of original and traditional music from artists at the Minnesota Salsa Fiesta on June 25. Bring a group to the courtyard family days during the Stone Arch Bridge Art Festival, Archaeology Day and Railroad Day. Plus take guided tours throughout the summer in the Washburn A Mill, and outdoors along the riverfront.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post - Learn, understand and enjoy the new exhibit Women of the Big Lake; experience firsthand the excitement and joy of a contemporary powwow honoring veterans past and present at the Memorial Day Powwow; learn how to use peyote stitch to make a beaded keychain at the Beaded Keychain Workshop on May 21; let Mille Lacs staff teach you how to safely shoot a bow and arrow at the Archery Workshop on June 22; and, learn how to store and work with birch bark at the Birch Bark Basket Workshop on June 25.

Minnesota History Center - See the latest exhibit, Righting a Wrong; join Attorney Dale Minami on May 21 for a recounting of how a fraud on the United States Supreme Court resulted in upholding of the conviction of Fred Korematsu and the incarceration program of Japanese Americans during World War II at the lecture Echoes of History: The Japanese American Imprisonment Resounds Today; and, attend conversations with artists and staff about Native Art in Minnesota on May 28 and Portraiture in Minnesota on June 25 as part of the Art Speaks exhibit. 

Split Rock Lighthouse - There’s always something going on at one of Minnesota’s most scenic spots: check out North Shore Community Night on May 26 with music, food and family fun; explore “Photography at the Rock,” a rotating monthly photography show featuring landscape and wildlife photographers of the areas; and, meet Sam Zimmerman and Thomas Peacock, the author and artist of the new book, “Following my Spirit Home” on June 12.

Create Your Own Historic Adventure
More MNHS sites including the Lower Sioux Agency, Minnesota State Capitol and the W.W. Mayo House are currently open with events and exhibits. Trail sites are also open for Birch Coulee Battlefield, Traverse des Sioux, Marine Mill, Lac qui Parle Mission and Fort Ridgley. 

Other sites including the Charles Lindbergh House and Museum, Folsom House, Comstock House, Forest History Center, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Snake River Fur Post and Oliver Kelley Farm will open Memorial Day weekend or shortly thereafter.

About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit 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 book 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.