Field Trips: Historic Forestville

Experience a historic Minnesota valley and town site with a rich history that features a well-preserved general store, homestead, and farm buildings from the late-1800s. Explore the history of the inhabitants of this area—from ancient peoples to today’s residents.

Core experience

The Many Facets of Forestville

K-8 (with content adjustments for different grade levels) 
Come to Historic Forestville for a curriculum-based, hands-on learning experience. Discover how the Dakota used the land before western expansion, examine how settler-colonists took advantage of the area’s natural resources, explore what pulled these people to Minnesota, experience the economics of a small town store and realize how “big” a small town can be.

Academic standards

The Many Facets of Forestville program supports state of Minnesota academic standards in social studies while the Mystery Cave program supports state of Minnesota academic standards in science. See below for more detailed information.

State Standards (PDF)

Historic Forestville

21899 County Road 118  
Preston, MN 55965  
Inside Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park

Cost

  • $8 per student, $80 minimum group fee
  • District staff free
  • One free adult per 10 students. Additional chaperones will be invoiced at the same rate as the students.
  • Admission costs are for anyone age 4 and over
  • Memberships and 6th grade passes are not valid on field trip days.

Billing information

No payment will be accepted the day of the field trip. All schools will be invoiced after their trip. For more information see our Program Policies.

Cancellation fee

Cancellations must be received 14 days before your trip. See our Program Policies. Contact us at fieldtrips@mnhs.org if you need to reschedule.

Details

  • Length: 90 minutes
  • 10:00-11:30 or 12:30-2:00
  • Contact the park office for a form that allows free bus parking.
  • A nearby State Park picnic pavilion can accommodate indoor/outdoor seating for 75.
  • Accessibility

Tour Mystery Cave

Make reservations with the DNR to visit nearby Mystery Cave State Park, $5 per person.

Scholarships, grants, and subsidies

Apply for scholarships, grants and subsidies, including transportation subsidies.

 


 

Nearby locations