There’s so much to do, see, and learn across Minnesota this season. New events are being added regularly, so keep checking www.mnhs.org/calendar for updates.

Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Beacon Lighting, Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors
November 10, 10 am–6 pm
This annual event commemorates the sinking of the freighter Edmund Fitzgerald and the total loss of the 29 crew members aboard on November 10, 1975. At 4:30 pm, the lighthouse will temporarily close while the names of the crew are read to the tolling of a ship’s bell, with a rendition of the Naval Hymn. Following the ceremony, the beacon will be lit, and the tower will be open again to tour until close at 6 pm. The event will be live streamed on the Split Rock Lighthouse Facebook page and on YouTube. Cost: Regular site admission

Porcupine Quill Earrings Workshop, Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia
November 12, 10 am–4 pm
Before they had access to beads through trading with the Europeans, the Ojibwe primarily used porcupine quills to adorn their clothing and tools. Learn to apply porcupine quills to birch bark to create beautiful, one-of-a-kind earrings to take home. The workshop will be taught by local traditional craft expert Carol Hernandez. Registration is required three days prior to the workshop. A minimum of five participants is required. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $50/MNHS and Mille Lacs Band members save 20%

Living Lands & Waters, Charles Lindbergh House and Museum Facebook Page
November 12, 1 pm–1:30 pm
Since Living Lands & Waters was established in 1998, it has grown to be the only “industrial strength” river cleanup organization like it in the world. Spending up to nine months a year living and traveling on the barge, the Living Lands & Waters crew hosts river cleanups, watershed conservation initiatives, workshops, and tree plantings. Join us for a virtual presentation to learn more about their conservation efforts. Cost: Free

Traversing the Pembina Trail by Oxcart, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
November 19, 2 pm–3:30 pm
Before steam trains connected St. Paul and Winnipeg, long trains of oxcarts brought goods back and forth between the two cities via the Red River, or Pembina, Trail. Invented and often driven by the Métis, hundreds of Red River carts traveled between the two cities each year, forming a crucial trade route in the mid-1800s. In the summer of 2022, Terry Doerksen retraced the historic Red River Trail in two and a half months with his ox Zik. Join Terry to hear about his everyday experiences on the trail, the challenges and joys of traveling with an ox, and what it means to retrace a historic trade route. Cost: Free

Food Traditions: Why Pie?, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis
November 19, 1:30 pm–2 pm
Join Rachel Anderson of Vikings and Goddesses Pies and Mill City Museum staff for a demonstration of how to make a fantastic pie crust while also learning about why pie came to be one of the traditional desserts associated with Thanksgiving. Of course, samples of fantastic Vikings and Goddesses Pies will be part of the fun! Cost: Regular site admission

Thanksgiving Break: Sherlock Holmes, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
November 25–27, 11 am–3 pm
From history to forensics and popular culture, learn more about the expansive world of Sherlock-inspired books, games and movies. Enjoy a showing of The Great Mouse Detective, create your own Mad Libs-style mystery book cover, and explore the wider Sherlock universe. Cost: Regular site admission

Holidays on the Hill Tour, James J. Hill House, St. Paul
November 25–December 31, 10 am–3:30 pm
Experience Christmas 1910—both upstairs and downstairs—in the sumptuous Gilded Age mansion of railroad titan James J. Hill. Admission includes self-guided access to holiday-themed exhibits and a 60-minute guided tour highlighting holiday stories and memories from both the Hill family and their staff. Cost: $18; children ages 4 and under free/MNHS members save 20%

Christmas on the Lindbergh Farm, Charles Lindbergh House and Museum, Little Falls
November 25–27, December 2–4, 10 am–5 pm
Experience Christmas like it would have been in central Minnesota during WWI. Explore the historic home with costumed guides, help decorate the tree, and learn about what life was like during the “Great War.” Cost: Regular site admission

A Christmas Carol, James J. Hill House, St. Paul
November 30–January 1, 7 pm–8:20 pm
Brave audiences will be huddled in small groups, shoulder to shoulder with Ebenezer himself as he confronts his past, present, and future. Staged throughout the James J. Hill House, the audience will be able to experience the home and Dickens’ classic like never before. Tickets starting at $50. waywardtheatre.org

Christmas On the Farm Tour, Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River
December 3 and 10, 1 pm–7 pm
Explore the Oliver Kelley Farm at Christmastime! See how farmers would prepare their animals for the long winter, enjoy a seasonal treat, and experience how 19th century farm families celebrated the Christmas holiday. Hot drinks and other light refreshments will be served in the Visitor Center. Tours are 45 minutes, scheduled at the top of each hour. Cost: $15/$12 for MNHS members

Birch Bark Ornament Workshop, Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia
December 10, Noon–5 pm
Create miniature ornaments from birch bark to decorate for the holidays or give as gifts in this one-day workshop taught by Mille Lacs Band member, Nancy Foster. Registration is required three days prior to the workshop. Tickets must be purchased online in advance. A minimum of five participants is required to host the workshop. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $55/MNHS and Mille Lacs Band members save 20%

Christmas in the Logging Camp, Forest History Center, Grand Rapids
December 10, 10 am–4 pm
North Woods Camp # 1, the Forest History Center's recreated 1900s logging camp, comes to life under a blanket of snow during this annual event. Join the camp crew as they get ready to celebrate Christmas in the logging camp. The program includes music, storytellers, horse drawn sleigh rides, and more. Cost: Regular site admission

Farmers’ Christmas Celebration, Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River
December 17, 1 pm–6 pm
Celebrate Christmas on the farm! Experience how farm families celebrated the Christmas holiday, explore the historic farmstead, and help with some of the wintertime work on the farm. Warm up with a historic Christmas cookie and parlor games in our historic house, and enjoy hot chocolate and other light refreshments in the Visitor Center. Make a Christmas craft to take home! Cost: $15/$12 for MNHS members

Winter Break Activities, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul
December 26–January 1, 11 am–3 pm
Can you crack the code? Bring your detective mind, friends and family to see Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition while the snow is flying and the indoors seem more appealing than the outdoors. Learn about cryptography through hands-on activities and create your own morse code bracelet. Cost: Regular site admission

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.