Get in those steps and exercise your mind with walking, running, paddling, pedaling and hiking tours at eight Minnesota Historical Society sites. More below (organized by date) and at www.mnhs.org/calendar. 

Mississippi River Paddling Adventures, Forest History Center, Grand Rapids
Wednesday, Aug. 17 through Saturday, Sept. 3, Multiple dates and times
Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi. Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the environmental history of the Mississippi River. Be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more. Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. No experience necessary and all equipment will be provided. Admission to Forest History Center not included. Cost $25/MNHS members save 20%

Minneapolis Riverfront Walking Tour, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis
Saturdays, Aug. 20, Sept. 3 and Sept. 17, 10:30 am - Noon
Take a guided walking tour of the Minneapolis riverfront and learn about its dramatic past and bright future. Visit the historic district at St. Anthony Falls, once the milling center of the world and now a growing cultural, recreational and residential neighborhood. See the Stone Arch Bridge and spectacular views of the falls. View historic buildings surrounding the riverfront. Learn about the industry that shaped the city. 90 minutes/Rain or shine/Cost $14/MNHS members save 20%

Grand Views Tour, Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors
Saturdays, Aug. 20, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, 8:30 - 11 am
Have you ever seen a photo of Split Rock Lighthouse and wondered where that was taken? The Grand Views Tour will show you some of the best spots within the historic site and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to capture the iconic lighthouse. This two and half hour guided hike also shares stories about life at the station and the relationship Split Rock had with the surrounding area. This tour is considered moderate in difficulty and involves uneven terrain and elevation changes. Cost $35/MNHS members save 20%

North Forestville Guided Hike, Historic Forestville, Preston 
Saturdays, Aug. 20, Sept. 3, Sept. 17, Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, 2 - 4 pm
The original footprint of the town of Forestville extended north into the state park. In this guided tour, go beyond Main Street to explore more of Forestville's past, including the Zumbro Hill Cemetery, the remains of the first schoolhouse, John Gill's brickyard, and the Robert M. Foster house, one of only two remaining homes from the town of Forestville. 1.5 miles, uneven ground and steep hill/Cost $10-12/MNHS members save 20%

Mille Lacs Indian Museum’s Annual One Mile Fun Run, Mille Lacs Indian Museum, Onamia
Sunday, Aug. 21, Registration begins at 9 am
Head to the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s 52nd Annual Powwow to join the Mille Lacs Indian Museum's annual one-mile Fun Run. Run or walk a mile across the powwow grounds to claim a free T-shirt. Registration begins at 9 am on the powwow grounds. Free event.

Historic Main Street Walking Tour, A-Mill Artist Lofts, 315 Main Street SE, Minneapolis
Sundays, Aug. 21 and Sept. 4, 10:30 am - Noon
Discover stories of the oldest neighborhood in Minneapolis with a Mill City Museum guide, who will highlight the rich diversity of the 1850s town of St. Anthony, the immense changes along Main Street throughout the years, and landmarks such as the 1855 Upton Block, 1858 Martin & Morrison Building, and the Pillsbury A Mill. Tours begin at the A-Mill Artist Lofts gray door on 3rd Avenue SE at Main Street  which is around the corner from the main entrance at 315 Main Street SE. Cost $14/MNHS members save 20%

Summit Avenue Walking Tour, James J. Hill House, St. Paul
Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 4, 11 am and 2 pm each day
Take a 90-minute walking tour of the Summit Avenue neighborhood, highlighting the Gilded Age mansions lining the elite avenue and the people who owned and built them. Guides will talk about the architecture, social history, and current preservation issues of this historic neighborhood.
1.5 miles/Cost $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 5-17/20% discount MNHS members/Site admission not included

Walking Tours, Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul
Check in for both tours at the Visitor Center. Rain or shine. Regular admission rates apply and cover both tours.
Looking Deeper Walking Tour
Saturdays, Sept. 10, Sept. 17, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, every half-hour between 10 am - 3 pm. Tour begins at the historic Fort.
Join Historic Fort Snelling staff for a one-hour walking tour at the historic fort. Learn about the archaeology, research, and sources that were key to the work of restoring Historic Fort Snelling and the continuing study of materials that allows us to talk about the 10,000 years of history and the people who lived and worked at the site. 
A Walk on the Prairie Tour
Saturdays, Sept. 17 through Oct. 29, at the bottom of the hour beginning at 10:30 am until 2:30 pm. Tour begins at the Visitor Center.
Savor nature on a 45-minute guided tour of the newly restored prairie at the revitalized Historic Fort Snelling. Learn about the native plants, their significance to and uses by Native Americans as well as the process and maintenance work as the prairie gets established. Discover this important landscape to Minnesota history and find out how it has changed over time. 

Capitol Quadriga Starlight Tours, Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul
Friday, Sept. 16 and Saturday, Sept. 17, 7 pm, 7:30 pm and 8 pm
Take a guided tour of the restored State Capitol building and meet historical characters from the Capitol's history. Climb to the rooftop for a rare evening opportunity to view the gilded Quadriga—the golden horses on the Capitol roof—against the backdrop of the lighted skyline of the Twin Cities. 90 minutes/Cost $12 adults, $10 seniors, $8 age 5-17/MNHS members save 20%

Twin Cities Tweed Ride 2022, Begins at James J. Hill House, St. Paul
Saturday, Sept. 24, Coffee hour at 9:30 am, Ride begins at 11 am
The Twin Cities Tweed Ride is a fun, free bike ride event that includes stops at places that are important to Minnesota History. The ride begins at James J. Hill House, then heads to Mill City Museum. After a break, the ride continues to Fair Oaks Park and concludes at the Hennepin History Museum with an ice cream social. Each stop is optional and includes engaging, educational activities. Free event.

Washburn A Mill Tour, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis
Sunday, Oct. 16, 10:30 am, Friday, Oct. 28, 1 pm and Sunday, Nov. 13, 10:30 am
Explore the nooks and crannies of the Washburn A Mill, the National Historic Landmark that is the home of Mill City Museum. The tour highlights the lives of men and women who worked there, how the building functioned during its peak flour milling years, how it changed over time, and how the mill ruin was converted to a museum and office building. Includes museum admission the day of your tour. Cost $16 adults, $14 seniors and college students, $12 ages 5-17/MNHS members save 20%

Shadows & Spirits of the State Capitol, Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul
Thursday, Friday and Saturday October 20-22 and 27-29, 6:30 pm, 7 pm, 7:30 pm and 8 pm
Join a one-hour guided tour of the restored Capitol through the shadowy rotunda, hallways, and chambers, lit with original early 1900s lighting. Visitors will encounter historical ‘spirits,’ including a night watchman, Civil War veteran, a woman suffragist, and more, who will tell stories of the Capitol's early history. Cost $15 adults, $13 seniors, $11 ages 5-17/MNHS members save 20%

Health and Safety
Protocols designed to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 can be viewed on the health and safety procedures page of each site’s website and mnhs.org. Masks are encouraged while indoors at all MNHS sites and museums. For more information, visit our website at mnhs.org/covid-19.

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.