Forest History Center Increases Access to Mississippi River with Pontoon Tours

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. (June 24, 2025) – Starting in July, visitors to the Forest History Center will be able to step aboard a new 6-passenger pontoon for a guided journey along the Mississippi River.

During this scenic one-hour excursion, guides will share fascinating facts about the river’s ecology, history, and contemporary significance. Learn about the creation of the Mississippi River, the many animals who use the river to survive and thrive, the history of humans and the Mississippi, and how the river is used by humans today.

Visitors can regularly catch a glimpse of wildlife including bald eagles, beavers, otters, herons, and much more. The tour will teach passengers to identify wild rice and they will discover the importance of white pine in northern Minnesota. Tours also visit a dam and learn how the Itasca Paper Company changed the course of the river and the history of Grand Rapids.

Mississippi River Pontoon Tours are joining the site’s popular Kayak Adventures on the daily schedule.

Pontoon Tours will take place twice daily, at noon and 2 pm, Wednesdays through Saturdays between July 2 and August 30. From September 5 to October 18, tours will be offered on Fridays and Saturdays.

Tickets cost $25 per person; Minnesota Historical Society members receive a 20% discount.

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.