Events

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

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Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

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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. 

Tour check-in is at 9:45 am. Includes museum admission the day of your tour.

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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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

Get tickets

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

Get tickets

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

Bring your bike to Historic Fort Snelling and join our staff as we take a bike tour inside the walls of the historic fort and will then explore the nearby Upper Post where soldiers were stationed during the 20th century and is now part of the new Upper Post Flats community. 

This tour will make numerous stops along the way as we share stories from Fort Snelling’s past.

Recommended for ages 12 and up if riding a bike. Ages 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult

Participants must be able to get on/off a bicycle independently, follow instructions, and stay with the group tour. Helmets are mandatory.

If we need to cancel due to weather conditions, there will be a full refund or the opportunity to reschedule.

Please make sure to wear appropriate clothing and footwear for biking, and bring sun protection.

E-bikes permitted but no other motorized vehicles allowed.

Tour starts beside the Plank Museum and Visitor Center.

Duration of tour: 1 1/2 hours; 3 miles.

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

Catch your dreams at Historic Forestville during a "Let's Think About This" obstacle trail clinic.

Bring your horse or mule and join Vince Welch for some one-on-one guidance when approaching new obstacles with your riding partner. This unique offering is available to only three students and limited to 20 auditors due to limited parking. Three students will receive instruction on the ground obstacle work and in the saddle gaining tips along the way. At the end of the day, participants will show off what they've learned in a mini participant challenge.

Vince is a trail obstacle building guru and trail obstacle buckle winner. Dennis Auslam has been Vince's mentor for years and you will find Vince assisting Dennis at many events.

The clinic will take place 9 am to 5 pm.

Auditors are welcome to spend the day observing and asking questions.

Sensory Friendly Days are events designated for visitors with autism. Families can enjoy activities in the museum courtyard from 9:00 am - 10:00 am with the MNHS Archaeology Department and other organizations before opening to the public.

The event is by reservation only.

To help families with sensory challenges prepare for a visit, we've created this downloadable Social Story. Download A Social Story (PDF 3.7 mb).

Take an expert-lead guided tour of the petroglyphs/rock carvings 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. 

The tour will be accompanied by a discussion of the archaeology of the earliest people of the Midwest and the climatic and environmental conditions they would have faced. Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes earlier than the event start time. The tour will start promptly at 9:15 am.

History and fun come together in a day of family activities in the museum’s open-air Ruin Courtyard.

Mill City Museum and the Minnesota Historical Society's archaeology department invite you to learn about the many ways archaeology has been used to discover the history of the Minneapolis riverfront at St. Anthony Falls.

Families can meet archaeologists, try an artifact challenge, and discover the tools archeologists use to find sites. Join us for an afternoon of learning through new discoveries and hands-on activities!

Discover the hidden histories of St. Paul’s downtown core. See the city’s shifting architectural styles, from neoclassical and art deco landmarks to modern skyscrapers and suburban-style malls. 

Traverse the skyways and learn about the mixed successes of St. Paul’s mid-century urban renewal. 

Discover historic gems hidden in plain sight and hear the stories behind some of the Saintly City’s most iconic places.

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Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

Get tickets

Join Forest History Center staff on a kayak adventure exploring the natural history of the Mississippi River. We'll be on the lookout for beaver, birds, bugs, bulrushes and so much more.

Learn how the river has impacted our landscape and our history. Come get your feet wet and have some fun on a guided tour of our little stretch of the mighty Mississippi.

Must be 10 years of age or older to participate. Those 17 years old and under must be accompanied by an adult. Admission to Forest History Center not included.

There are two tandem kayaks available and six single kayaks available for each tour.

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

Get tickets

Discover the stories of Minneapolis’s oldest neighborhood with a Mill City Museum guide, who will highlight the rich diversity of the 1850s town of St. Anthony, which was a crossroads for many peoples including Dakota, Ojibwe, white Yankees, Métis, African Americans, southern tourists, and immigrants. 

Learn about the social history of the community, the industries that grew along the river, and the immense changes along Main Street throughout the years.

This tour will begin and end at the A-Mill Artist Lofts on 3rd Ave. SE at Main Street. The tour includes about one mile of moderately-paced walking on uneven surfaces.

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

Get tickets

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.

The tour starts at the James J. Hill House and covers 1.5 miles. All areas are accessible for those with mobility concerns, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Tours do not include home interiors.

Get tickets