Summer Starts at the Minnesota Historical Society

ST. PAUL, Minn. (June 25, 2026) – Summer brings sunshine, heat, and plenty of events and experiences at the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)! On June 27, MNHS will provide greater access to history with the next free admission day, and be sure to keep an eye on our calendar because new events are being added all the time.

Minnesota History Center, St. Paul

Will Steger: The Expedition Gear That Made the Impossible Possible, June 27

Join polar explorer Will Steger and expedition veteran Julie Hignell for a compelling, gear-focused conversation on what it really takes to cross the Arctic. Can also be joined virtually.

The Steger Homestead Kitchen Cookbook Brunch, June 27

A brunch featuring Will Steger in conversation with Beth Dooley. Learn more about the recipes that speak to the highlights of the season, featuring the stories of Steger as he discusses the cookbook, unique environmental perspectives, and the journey from pole to pole.

After Antarctica Film Screening, June 28

Take in a special screening of After Antarctica and learn more about Will Steger’s incredible journey across both poles.

Rothchild Family Concert Series: Jasper String Quartet, July 2

Join the Laurel School of Music for the Rothchild Family Concert Series, featuring a unique program performed by members of the music school’s faculty.

3 Strings Music Workshop & Emergence Concert, July 16

Join 3 Strings' Emergence for a free, interactive, family-friendly evening of music and community in celebration of Disability Pride Month.

Open Eye Theater: Jeremy & the Giant King, July 30

Bring a blanket and enjoy a family-friendly puppet performance on our lawn with Open Eye Theater!

Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra Performance, August 20

The Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra will perform popular tunes, traditional music from the “golden age” of mandolin orchestras, and newer pieces written for mandolin groups by local and nationally-known composers.

History Happy Hour, Through Summer

Join us this summer for History Happy Hour on the patio at the Minnesota History Center—a lively evening series where history, community, and a great night out come together.

Booked on Thursdays, July 30 & August 27

Block off your calendar and open a book from the MNHS reading list. Join this once-monthly book club for spirited discussions on the themes and messages from literature by local Minnesota authors.

James J. Hill House, St. Paul

Nooks & Crannies Tour, Through Summer

Go beyond the standard tour with rare access to hidden areas of the Hill House, including the attic theater, gate house, and private storage spaces usually closed to the public. This 90-minute guided experience highlights personal stories of the Hill family and domestic workers, paired with close-up views of original artifacts and fixtures.

Summit Avenue Walking Tour, Through Summer

St. Paul's Summit Avenue is the longest stretch of Victorian mansions remaining in the country. Join our knowledgeable guides on a 90-minute tour to learn about the architecture, social history, and preservation issues of the historic neighborhood. The walk covers 1.5 miles.

Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul

Independence Day at Historic Fort Snelling, July 4

Join us for a day filled with historic demonstrations, a military timeline, musical performances from the Fife & Drum Corps, and much more!

History on Two Wheels: Historic Fort Snelling and the Upper Post, July 16 & August 13

Bring your bike to Historic Fort Snelling and embark on a 90-minute, 3-mile journey into the past over mostly level terrain, led by knowledgeable guides.

Muskets and Cannons Day, July 18 & August 8

Join us for our Muskets and Cannons days to learn about early 19th century weapons technology. Site staff in historical uniform will describe the procedures and ammunition of the era for flintlock muskets and artillery, including firing demonstrations.

Health of a Garrison, July 25 & August 16

In the historic fort, hear what medical care for the soldiers would have entailed. Check out new displays in the Hospital building, including the Civil War field hospital, steward’s quarters, library and kitchen.

Mill City Museum, Minneapolis

Going Out, Coming In Walking Tour, July 5
Take a guided walking tour of LGBTQIA+ community spaces in Downtown Minneapolis. Visit a selection of the sites highlighted in the recent exhibit, Going Out, Coming In: LGBTQ+ Spaces in Downtown Minneapolis.

Minnesota Salsa Fiesta, July 11

The annual Minnesota Salsa Fiesta returns to Mill City Museum with an evening of music, dancing, food, and more!

Pillsbury A Mill Tour, July 12, July 25, & August 15

Tour the historic Pillsbury A Mill, once the largest flour mill in the world, and today the home to much of Minneapolis’s artist community.

Historic Riverfront Walking Tour, Through Summer

Take a guided, 1.25-mile walking tour of the Minneapolis riverfront and learn about its dramatic past and bright future.

Millers' Tour, Through Summer

Join this 60-minute, in-depth tour of the nooks and crannies of Mill City Museum. Walking through the Washburn A Mill Complex, visitors gain special insights on who worked at the mill and how it ran.

Minnesota State Capitol, St. Paul

Sharing the Spirit of America: Nationwide Reading of the Declaration of Independence, July 8

Minnesota will join a national initiative as citizens across all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia unite to read the Declaration of Independence, 250 years after its first reading on July 8, 1776.

Arts & Artists of the State Capitol, July 11

View grand murals, paintings, sculpture, and lavish decorations while touring legislative chambers, historic spaces, and corridors.

Capitol Builders Tour, August 8

Explore locations throughout the Capitol that show the work and methods that went into its creation and learn about the people involved from the groundbreaking to its opening in 1905.

The Capitol Not-So-Hidden History Tour, August 29

This special guided tour allows guests to see physical evidence and uncover historical details to discover changes made to the State Capitol chambers, corridors, and spaces over the last 120 years.

Sibley Historic Site, Mendota

Fourth of July at Sibley, July 4

Join us for a celebration of America’s 250th with free admission, birthday cake, crafts, and more.

Five Remarkable Women of the Colonial Era and Early Republic, July 17

Join historian Frank Sachs as he discusses the diverse people of the past who contributed to the American story of liberty and prosperity.

Abolitionists of Southeast Minnesota at Sibley, August 21

Join us for a session with Sara Holger, who will share captivating stories gathered through oral history interviews with descendants of the abolitionists who lived in southeast Minnesota.

Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey

Updated Exhibit Open House, June 27

Join us on Free Admission Day for a chance to explore the updated visitor center exhibit. The refreshed exhibit includes updated displays, interactive elements, and new multimedia installations.

Animal Tracks of the Prairie, July 4

Learn about the mammal species of our prairie by examining tanned hides, skulls, and other bones. Make a plaster cast of an animal track alongside one of our interpreters.

Flint Knapping Demonstration, July 18

Learn how early hunters created arrowheads for their spears or arrows by observing flintknapper Xoloti Bembe Ek (Alex Ek) demonstrate the craft.

Author Talk: Learn about Lichen with the Bell Museum, July 25

Tag along with lichen expert Tanner Barnharst, author of Minnesota Lichen Guide, and identify the unique lichen species covering the exposed rock at the petroglyphs site.

Sunrise Tours, Through Summer

Take an expert-led tour of the petroglyphs that are thought to be some of the oldest in the Midwest. You will get the rare chance to go beyond the ropes and view carvings under their most favorable viewing conditions: up close and in the morning sun.

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia

Birch Bark Basket Workshop, July 18

Learn how to harvest and work with birch bark in this one-day workshop led by Ojibwe artist Pat Kruse. Event participants will make a simple birch bark basket.

Site Walking Tour, Through Summer

These 30-minute guided tours start at the trading post and end in the museum. During the tour, guides will talk about and visit the Ayer's house, Three Sisters garden, medicine garden, and the outbuildings.

Kids Craft Saturdays, Through Summer

Kids (or even adults) can color a shoulder bag or make a corn husk doll. The craft being offered will alternate every weekend. There is a small upcharge for this activity.

Oliver Kelley Farm, Elk River

Stirring Up Ireland: Risotto on the Farm, July 2

Discover a fresh take on Emerald Isle cuisine in this hands-on Irish Risotto class led by Chef Shelagh Mullen. Inspired by traditional ingredients and seasonal Minnesota produce, you’ll learn how to create a rich, creamy risotto infused with a few distinctly Irish flavors.

Old Fashioned Fourth of July, July 4

Enjoy a day filled with 19th-century games, picnicking, and patriotic speeches on the farm to celebrate this Fourth of July. Period costumes are strongly encouraged!

Threshing Days, August 7 & 8

Join our farm hands in the time-honored tradition of helping to bring grain bundles from the fields and thresh the grain.

Summer Foraging for Wild Edibles, August 15

Join Maria Wesserle of Four Season Foraging in this introductory class about common wild edibles. Together we will explore the summer landscape in search of fresh flowers, fruits, and mushrooms, as well as prepare simple dishes with our harvested finds.

From Farm to Supermarket, August 29

Join us and speaker Tracy Deutsch as we explore the evolving role of supermarkets, reflect on the choices behind everyday food access, and consider the challenges that still remain.

Barnyard Square Dance, September 5

Bring your dancing shoes down the barnyard and join celebrated Minnesota musician Bob Bovee along with a fiddle player and a caller for an old-fashioned square dance!

Snake River Fur Post, Pine City

Voyageur Day, July 18

This new summer event will allow visitors to learn more about the work and lives of Voyageurs in the early 1800s, featuring costumed reenactors from La Compagnie des Hivernants de la Riviere Saint Pierre.

Split Rock Lighthouse, Two Harbors

Photography & Art at the Rock: Voyageur Artists, June 27

We are proud to feature Voyageur Artists, a collective of local artists from Two Harbors. This group exhibit brings together a diverse range of styles, perspectives, and mediums — all rooted in a shared connection to the landscapes, waters, and communities that define this region.

Book Signing: Pearl's Garden by Carolyn Olson, June 27

Join author and illustrator Carolyn Olson for a signing of her new children's book, Pearl's Garden, at Split Rock Lighthouse.

Photography & Art at the Rock: Lisa Webskowski, July 3 & 4

Artist Jane Dierberger will be on-site to answer questions about her work, deeply inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of Minnesota’s North Shore along Lake Superior.

Book Signing: “Following the Fish” by Michael Risku, July 11

Join author Michael Risku for a signing of his new book, Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing Along Minnesota’s North Shore.

Book Signing: Her Place in the Woods, The Life of Helen Hoover by David Hakensen, July 18

Join author David Hakensen for a signing of his new book, Her Place in the Woods: The Life of Helen Hoover, the first complete biography of nature writer Helen Hoover.

The Keeper’s View, July 31

Join us for a free open house celebrating the completion of the Trails and Landscape and Lighthouse preservation projects at Split Rock Lighthouse.

Book Signing:"Remember the Main" by Meg Gorzycki, August 1

Join author Meg Gorzycki for a signing of her new book, Remember the Main: The Gay Bar that Started a Movement in the Northland.

Photography & Art at the Rock: Featuring Ryan Cairl, August 22 & 29

Photographer Ryan Cairl will be on-site to answer questions about his work, inspired by a lifelong connection to the outdoors and a desire to capture the same sense of wonder found in the places we explore.

Keepers Tours, Through Summer

Experience the site like the keepers and their families did and immerse yourself in their stories. This private 60-minute guided tour of the historic site before the site opens to the public includes the lighthouse and keeper’s house, along with general admission access.

Historic Forestville, Preston

Bat Festival, July 11

Explore expanded access to Historic Forestville and participate in educational programs, hands-on activities, and self-guided experiences designed to help visitors of all ages learn about the importance of bats in our ecosystems.

Funding for free admission is provided by the State of Minnesota's Legacy Amendment, through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008, and our generous donors and members.

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