{ "id": "mn-historic-sites", "name": "Historic Sites in Minnesota: Hours, Admission and What to See", "description": "58 historic sites a visitor can go to in Minnesota (National Park Service units, state historic sites, museums, battlefields, house museums) with town, county, region, hours, admission and the operator page each was read from.", "page": "https://itsminnesota.com/history/historic-sites/", "csv": "https://itsminnesota.com/data/downloads/mn-historic-sites.csv", "json": "https://itsminnesota.com/data/downloads/mn-historic-sites.json", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "attribution": "It's Minnesota (itsminnesota.com), CC BY 4.0", "citation": "It's Minnesota (2026). Historic Sites in Minnesota: Hours, Admission and What to See. https://itsminnesota.com/history/historic-sites/", "publisher": "It's Minnesota", "geo_scope": "Minnesota, USA", "last_checked": "2026-10-20", "row_count": 58, "columns": [ "name", "type", "operator", "city", "county", "region", "theme", "era", "what_to_see", "hours", "admission", "free", "open_season", "official_url", "source_url", "checked" ], "column_notes": { "name": "Site name as the operator uses it", "type": "NPS unit, State historic site, Museum, Battlefield, House museum, Historic village, Historic district, Fort, Archaeological site, Memorial or Other", "operator": "Who runs it", "city": "City or town", "county": "County", "region": "Our editorial region (not an official designation)", "theme": "Main history theme", "era": "Main era", "what_to_see": "One-sentence description", "hours": "Hours as the operator lists them, or See official site", "admission": "Admission as the operator lists it, or See official site", "free": "yes, no, partly or unknown", "open_season": "Season or days open where stated", "official_url": "Operator's own page", "source_url": "Page the row was read from", "checked": "Date (YYYY-MM-DD) the row was read" }, "rows": [ { "name": "Historic Fort Snelling", "type": "Fort", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Bdote; Dakota homeland; military; slavery and freedom (Dred Scott); US-Dakota War; immigration", "era": "1819-1946 (10,000 years at Bdote)", "what_to_see": "1825 stone fort (National Historic Landmark), Plank Museum & Visitor Center in a rehabilitated 1904 cavalry barracks, river overlooks, 'Many Voices, Many Stories, One Place' exhibit", "hours": "Thu-Sat 10-4 (Sept 7-Dec 31, 2026); fort by guided walking tour only, weather dependent", "admission": "$12 adults; $10 seniors 65+/college students/active military; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under free; Native Americans and veterans free (on-site); parking $6", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round, seasonal schedules", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mill City Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Flour milling; St. Anthony Falls; riverfront industry", "era": "1874-1965", "what_to_see": "Museum in the Washburn A Mill complex (NHL); Flour Tower elevator show, water and baking labs, riverfront views", "hours": "Wed-Fri 10-4; Sat-Sun 10-5; Mon-Tue closed", "admission": "$15 adults; $12 seniors 65+/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under and MNHS members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millcity", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millcity/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Split Rock Lighthouse", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Two Harbors", "county": "Lake", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "theme": "Great Lakes shipping; lighthouse life; Mataafa storm; Edmund Fitzgerald", "era": "1910-1969", "what_to_see": "1910 lighthouse and fog signal building, keeper's house, visitor center film and exhibits on a 25-acre site", "hours": "Mon and Thu-Sun 10-4; Tue-Wed closed (Oct 20, 2026-Jan 4, 2027)", "admission": "Grounds Pass $8 (no lighthouse or keeper's home access); Keeper's Tour $25; Christmas at the Lighthouse $20 (MNHS members free)", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round, seasonal programs", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "James J. Hill House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Gilded Age; railroads; Summit Avenue", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Railroad magnate James J. Hill's Summit Avenue mansion (NHL); 60-minute guided tours", "hours": "Thu-Sun 10-5 (Sept 10-Nov 22, 2026; same hours for A Gilded Age Christmas Nov 28, 2026-Jan 3, 2027)", "admission": "$15 adults; $12 seniors 65+/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under and members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Guided tours Thu-Sun, January-November; holiday season in December", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Alexander Ramsey House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Territorial/state politics", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Closed for planned restoration work; MNHS has not posted a reopening date. When open: the 1872 Victorian mansion of Alexander Ramsey, territorial governor (1849) and second state governor, with over 14,000 original family objects", "hours": "Closed", "admission": "$15 adults; $12 seniors 65+/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under and MNHS members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Closed for restoration (no reopening date posted)", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/ramseyhouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/ramseyhouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnesota History Center", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Statewide history; Native Minnesota; WWII; weather", "era": "All eras", "what_to_see": "Exhibits incl. 'Our Home: Native Minnesota', 'Minnesota's Greatest Generation', 'Then Now Wow'; Gale Family Library", "hours": "Wed and Fri-Sun 10-4; Thu 10-8; Mon-Tue closed", "admission": "$15 adults; $12 seniors 65+/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under and MNHS members free", "free": "partly", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/historycenter", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/historycenter/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnesota State Capitol", "type": "Other", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) (tours/interpretation)", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "State government; Cass Gilbert architecture; Civil War art and battle flags", "era": "1896-1905", "what_to_see": "Third state capitol (1905), restored 2013-2017; guided and self-guided tours", "hours": "Mon-Fri 8-4:30; Sat 10-3; Sun closed (Feb 17-Dec 31, 2026)", "admission": "Free; suggested $5 donation for guided tours", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/capitol", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/capitol", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Oliver Kelley Farm", "type": "Historic village", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Elk River", "county": "Sherburne", "region": "Central Lakes & St. Cloud", "theme": "Agriculture; National Grange founder", "era": "1860s", "what_to_see": "1860s farm life, Kelley homestead (NHL)", "hours": "Sat 9-3 (Sept 6-Dec 23, 2026)", "admission": "$12 adults; $10 seniors 65+/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under and MNHS members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal schedules", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/kelleyfarm", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/kelleyfarm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Jeffers Petroglyphs", "type": "Archaeological site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Comfrey", "county": "Cottonwood", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "American Indian rock carvings; prairie", "era": "ca. 9,000 BCE-1700s CE", "what_to_see": "Closed for the season: the 2026 public season ended Oct 17. About 5,000 sacred rock carvings on glacier-smoothed rock outcrops, visitor center exhibits on Native American culture and prairie, prairie trails", "hours": "Closed for the season (public season ended Oct 17, 2026)", "admission": "$12 adults; $10 seniors/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under, MNHS members and Native Americans free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal (spring to fall); 2027 dates not yet posted", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/jefferspetroglyphs", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/jefferspetroglyphs", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Onamia", "county": "Mille Lacs", "region": "Central Lakes & St. Cloud", "theme": "Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe history and culture", "era": "Last 300 years", "what_to_see": "Museum on the journey of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe; restored trading post", "hours": "Wed-Sat 10-5; Sun-Tue closed", "admission": "$12 adults; $10 seniors/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under, MNHS members and Native Americans free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal schedule", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millelacs", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millelacs", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Forest History Center", "type": "Historic village", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Grand Rapids", "county": "Itasca", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "theme": "Logging; north woods ecology", "era": "ca. 1900", "what_to_see": "Recreated 1900-era logging camp, 200-acre site, horse-drawn trolley and sleigh rides, kayak tours", "hours": "Sat 10-4 (Oct 24-Dec 19, 2026)", "admission": "$15 adults; $12 seniors 65+/veterans/active military/college students; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under and MNHS members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/foresthistory", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/foresthistory", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Sibley Historic Site", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) with Dakota County Historical Society", "city": "Mendota", "county": "Dakota", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Fur trade; American Fur Company; early statehood", "era": "1836-1842 (American Fur Company HQ)", "what_to_see": "Sibley House, Faribault House and Dupuis House (stone buildings)", "hours": "Closed for the season (except events)", "admission": "$10 adults; $8 seniors/veterans/active military/college students; $6 ages 5-17; 4 & under and members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal (closed Sept 8-Dec 31, 2026 except events)", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/sibley", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/sibley", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "W. W. Mayo House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) (with Ney Nature Center members free)", "city": "Le Sueur", "county": "Le Sueur", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Medicine (Mayo family); Green Giant (Cosgrove family)", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Costumed-guide tours of the house where Mayo and Cosgrove families lived", "hours": "Holiday hours Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026: Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4", "admission": "$6 adults; $5 seniors/veterans/active military/college students; $4 ages 5-17; 4 & under free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/mayohouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/mayohouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Comstock House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) with Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County", "city": "Moorhead", "county": "Clay", "region": "Red River Valley", "theme": "19th-century family home", "era": null, "what_to_see": "19th-century home of the Comstock family", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "$8 adults; $7 seniors/veterans/active military/college students; $6 ages 5-17; MNHS and HCSCC members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "See official site", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/comstock", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/comstock", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Folsom House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Taylors Falls", "county": "Chisago", "region": "St. Croix Valley & East Central", "theme": "Folsom family; 19th-century St. Croix Valley", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Guided tour of the Folsom family house restored to its 19th-century appearance", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "Free; donations appreciated", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/folsomhouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/folsomhouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Charles Lindbergh House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Little Falls", "county": "Morrison", "region": "Central Lakes & St. Cloud", "theme": "Aviation; Lindbergh family; environmentalism", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Childhood home of aviator Charles A. Lindbergh (NHL) and museum; trails", "hours": "Trails open daily dawn to dusk; house: see official site", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "See official site", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lindbergh", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lindbergh/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Historic Forestville", "type": "Historic village", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Preston", "county": "Fillmore", "region": "South Lakes & Bluff Country", "theme": "Rural village life", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Historic village site in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "Free (State Park vehicle permit required)", "free": "yes", "open_season": "See official site", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/forestville", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/forestville/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Snake River Fur Post", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Pine City", "county": "Pine", "region": "St. Croix Valley & East Central", "theme": "Ojibwe and the fur trade", "era": "Fur trade era", "what_to_see": "Fur post at Ginebig-ziibi (Snake River); grounds", "hours": "Grounds open daily dawn to dusk", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round grounds", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/furpost", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/furpost/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Fort Ridgely", "type": "Fort", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Fairfax", "county": "Nicollet", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "US-Dakota War of 1862; frontier army post", "era": "1853-1867", "what_to_see": "Site of the fort in Fort Ridgely State Park; commissary building", "hours": "Grounds daily 8-8; commissary building currently closed", "admission": "Free (State park vehicle permit required)", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round grounds", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortridgely", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortridgely", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Birch Coulee Battlefield", "type": "Battlefield", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "Morton", "county": "Renville", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "US-Dakota War of 1862", "era": "1862", "what_to_see": "Self-guided trail across the battlefield", "hours": "Trails open daily dawn to dusk (not maintained in winter)", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round (trails unmaintained in winter)", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/birchcoulee", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/birchcoulee", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Lower Sioux Agency", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Co-owned and managed by the Lower Sioux Indian Community and MNHS", "city": "Morton", "county": "Redwood", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Dakota culture and history; causes of the US-Dakota War", "era": "1861 building; 1862 war", "what_to_see": "Restored 1861 U.S. government building, History Center owned and operated by the Lower Sioux Indian Community, Minnesota River trails", "hours": "Trails open daily dawn to dusk; History Center hours via Lower Sioux Indian Community", "admission": "Free (trails); History Center: see official site", "free": "partly", "open_season": "Year-round trails", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lowersioux", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lowersioux", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Harkin Store", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "New Ulm", "county": "Nicollet", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Rural commerce", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Historic store site", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "See official site", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/harkinstore", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/harkinstore/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Lac qui Parle Mission", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS); managed by the Chippewa County Historical Society", "city": "Montevideo", "county": "Chippewa", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Missions", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Site where Joseph Renville worked with missionaries to create the first written Dakota alphabet; mission building (seasonal) and trails", "hours": "Grounds daily 8-8; mission building closed for the season", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Seasonal building", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lacquiparle", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lacquiparle", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Marine Mill", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS); managed by the City of Marine on St. Croix", "city": "Marine on St. Croix", "county": "Washington", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Lumbering", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Ruins of the first commercial sawmill in Minnesota (operated 1839-1895) on a bluff over the St. Croix River; trails", "hours": "Daily 8-8", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/marinemill", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/marinemill", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnehaha Depot", "type": "Other", "operator": "MNHS; managed by the Minnesota Transportation Museum", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Railroads", "era": null, "what_to_see": "'Gingerbread'-canopied depot on the first rail line out of Minneapolis, in Minnehaha Park", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/minnehahadepot", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/minnehahadepot", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Traverse des Sioux", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS)", "city": "St. Peter", "county": "Nicollet", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux; Dakota homeland", "era": "1851", "what_to_see": "Treaty site trails; adjacent Treaty Site History Center (separate admission)", "hours": "Grounds daily 8-8", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round grounds", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/traversedessioux", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/traversedessioux", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Grand Portage National Monument", "type": "NPS unit", "operator": "National Park Service", "city": "Grand Portage", "county": "Cook", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "theme": "Grand Portage Anishinaabe and the North West Company fur trade", "era": "1700s fur trade", "what_to_see": "Heritage Center exhibits and film; reconstructed Historic Depot (Great Hall, kitchen, canoe warehouse, stockade); Ojibwe Village, hiking trails", "hours": "Heritage Center winter hours 9-4:30, closed Sundays and federal holidays; Historic Depot closed until Memorial Day weekend 2027", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round Heritage Center; Depot Memorial Day-fall", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/grpo/", "source_url": "https://www.nps.gov/grpo/planyourvisit/hours.htm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Pipestone National Monument", "type": "NPS unit", "operator": "National Park Service", "city": "Pipestone", "county": "Pipestone", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Sacred pipestone quarries; Indigenous traditions", "era": "3,000+ years; NM 1937", "what_to_see": "Active quarries, 3/4-mile Circle Trail, Mission 66 visitor center with exhibits, 22-minute film and traditional cultural demonstrations", "hours": "Circle Trail open any time; visitor center: see official site", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/pipe/", "source_url": "https://www.nps.gov/pipe/planyourvisit/hours.htm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mississippi National River and Recreation Area", "type": "NPS unit", "operator": "National Park Service (partnership park)", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Mississippi River; St. Anthony Falls; Bdote", "era": "All eras", "what_to_see": "72-mile river park; Mississippi River Visitor Center; partner historic sites along the river", "hours": "Park open 24 hours, year-round (partner sites set own hours)", "admission": "Free (partner sites may charge)", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/miss/", "source_url": "https://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/hours.htm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mni Owe Sni (Coldwater Spring)", "type": "Other", "operator": "National Park Service (Mississippi NRRA)", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Dakota sacred spring; Bdote", "era": "All eras", "what_to_see": "Spring and restored landscape near Fort Snelling", "hours": "Daily 6 am-10 pm", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/miss/", "source_url": "https://www.nps.gov/miss/planyourvisit/hours.htm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park", "type": "State historic site", "operator": "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources", "city": "Soudan", "county": "St. Louis", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "theme": "Iron mining (Vermilion Range); physics lab", "era": "1882-1962", "what_to_see": "Cage ride 2,341 feet down to the 27th level and underground train to the Montana stope (NHL: Soudan Iron Mine)", "hours": "Mine tours daily Memorial Day weekend-end of Sept; Sept 28-Oct 18 weekends (Thu-Sun MEA weekend); off-season group tours only", "admission": "Mine tour: $15 ages 13+; $10 ages 5-12; 4 & under free (ticket required)", "free": "no", "open_season": "Memorial Day weekend-mid October", "official_url": "https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/tours/lake-vermilion-soudan.html", "source_url": "https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/tours/lake-vermilion-soudan.html", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mille Lacs Kathio State Park", "type": "Archaeological site", "operator": "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources", "city": "Onamia", "county": "Mille Lacs", "region": "Central Lakes & St. Cloud", "theme": "Archaeology; thousands of years of human history", "era": "Thousands of years", "what_to_see": "Kathio Interpretive Center with artifact replicas; two self-guided trails to archaeological sites; NHL (Kathio Site)", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "State park vehicle permit (see DNR)", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round park", "official_url": "https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/mille-lacs-kathio/things-to-do.html", "source_url": "https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state-parks/mille-lacs-kathio/things-to-do.html", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnesota Discovery Center", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Minnesota Discovery Center", "city": "Chisholm", "county": "St. Louis", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "theme": "Iron Range mining and immigration", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Iron Range history museum, research center, mining-themed attractions, trolley tours", "hours": "Fall/winter: Tue-Sat 10-5 (Thu to 8); Sun-Mon closed. Summer adds Sun 10-5", "admission": "$12 adults; $10 seniors 62+ and veterans/active military; $7 students 3-17; 2 & under free", "free": "partly", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.mndiscoverycenter.org/", "source_url": "https://www.mndiscoverycenter.org/plan-a-visit/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "American Swedish Institute (Turnblad Mansion)", "type": "Museum", "operator": "American Swedish Institute", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Swedish immigration; Nordic culture", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Turnblad Mansion and galleries", "hours": "Thu-Sun 10-4; Mon-Wed closed (galleries and mansion closed Jan 10-Feb 18)", "admission": "$12 adults; $8 ages 62+; $6 ages 6-18 and students; 0-5 and members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://asimn.org/", "source_url": "https://asimn.org/visit/hours-admission/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Glensheen Historic Estate", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Glensheen (University of Minnesota Duluth)", "city": "Duluth", "county": "St. Louis", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "theme": "Iron Range wealth; Lake Superior estate", "era": "1908", "what_to_see": "Congdon family mansion and grounds on Lake Superior; self-guided Classic Tour", "hours": "Daily 10-4 (Oct 20-Jan 4); Fri-Sun 10-4 (Jan 5-Mar 4); closed Nov 2-5, Nov 9-12, Thanksgiving, Dec 24-25", "admission": "Classic Tour $20 adults; $18 veterans and seniors 62+; $8 ages 5-17; 4 & under free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://glensheen.org/", "source_url": "https://glensheen.org/visit/visitor-information/hours-operation", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Lake Superior Railroad Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Lake Superior Railroad Museum", "city": "Duluth", "county": "St. Louis", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "theme": "Railroads", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Railroad museum in the historic St. Louis County Depot; North Shore Scenic Railroad departures", "hours": "Daily 10-5 (holiday closures; early close Fri-Sun during Christmas City Express)", "admission": "$14 adults 14+; $7 ages 3-13; 2 & under free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://lsrm.org/", "source_url": "https://lsrm.org/visitors/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "SS William A. Irvin", "type": "Museum", "operator": "DECC (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center)", "city": "Duluth", "county": "St. Louis", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "theme": "Great Lakes shipping", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Guided tours of a retired Great Lakes freighter", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "See official site", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://decc.org/william-a-irvin/", "source_url": "https://decc.org/william-a-irvin/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial", "type": "Memorial", "operator": "Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial board with the City of Duluth", "city": "Duluth", "county": "St. Louis", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "theme": "1920 Duluth lynchings; civil rights", "era": "1920 / 2003", "what_to_see": "Memorial plaza at East First Street and North Second Avenue East, across from the lynching site; sculptures and quotations", "hours": "Outdoor public plaza", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://claytonjacksonmcghie.org/", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/thing/clayton-jackson-mcghie-memorial-duluth", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Hermann Monument (Hermann Heights Park)", "type": "Memorial", "operator": "City of New Ulm (owner per MNopedia)", "city": "New Ulm", "county": "Brown", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "German immigration", "era": "1897", "what_to_see": "Copper statue of Hermann (Arminius) atop a dome", "hours": "Grounds open; climbing access closed. The official page still shows 2025 season hours", "admission": "$3 per person; 5 & under free with adult", "free": "no", "open_season": "Memorial Day-early October", "official_url": "https://hermannmonument.com/", "source_url": "https://hermannmonument.com/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Brown County Historical Society Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Brown County Historical Society", "city": "New Ulm", "county": "Brown", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "County history; Wanda Gág and New Ulm Turners", "era": null, "what_to_see": "'Becoming Brown County' and other exhibits; research library", "hours": "Tue-Fri 10-4; Sat 10-3", "admission": "$7 adults; $5 seniors 65+; $4 students 5-18; 4 & under and members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.browncountyhistorymn.org/", "source_url": "https://www.browncountyhistorymn.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Wanda Gág House", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Wanda Gág House Association", "city": "New Ulm", "county": "Brown", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Artist/author Wanda Gág", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Childhood home with attic studio, skylights and turrets; self-guided or 45-minute docent tours", "hours": "Sat 10-4; Sun 11-2", "admission": "Free; suggested donation $5", "free": "yes", "open_season": "See official site", "official_url": "https://wandagaghouse.org/", "source_url": "https://wandagaghouse.org/visit/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Warden's House Museum", "type": "House museum", "operator": "Washington County Historical Society", "city": "Stillwater", "county": "Washington", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Prison history; Stillwater", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Historic warden's house museum", "hours": "Tours Thu-Sun at 1, 2, 3 and 4 pm", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "May-October", "official_url": "https://www.wchsmn.org/", "source_url": "https://www.wchsmn.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Washington County Heritage Center", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Washington County Historical Society", "city": "Stillwater", "county": "Washington", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Washington County history", "era": null, "what_to_see": "County history exhibits", "hours": "Tue-Sat 10-4", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.wchsmn.org/", "source_url": "https://www.wchsmn.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Goodhue County History Center", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Goodhue County Historical Society", "city": "Red Wing", "county": "Goodhue", "region": "South Lakes & Bluff Country", "theme": "County history", "era": null, "what_to_see": "County history museum and research library", "hours": "Tue-Fri 10-4; Sat 10-3; Sun-Mon closed", "admission": "$5 adults; $2 ages 13-18; 12 & under and members free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://goodhuecountyhistory.org/", "source_url": "https://goodhuecountyhistory.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Gammelgården Museum", "type": "Historic village", "operator": "Gammelgården Museum", "city": "Scandia", "county": "Washington", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Swedish immigrant heritage", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Historic Swedish immigrant buildings; Välkommen Hus and Butik", "hours": "Wed-Sat 10-4; Sun 1-4 (2026 season May 2-Dec 19; closed Oct 25-31, 2026)", "admission": "Building tours $15 ($14 military/veterans/Time Traveler members; members free)", "free": "partly", "open_season": "May-December", "official_url": "https://gammelgardenmuseum.org/", "source_url": "https://gammelgardenmuseum.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum", "city": "Walnut Grove", "county": "Redwood", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "Pioneer life; Laura Ingalls Wilder", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Eight exhibit buildings and a jail cell", "hours": "Hours change by season (see monthly hours)", "admission": "$10 ages 13+; $4 ages 5-12; 4 & under free", "free": "no", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://walnutgrove.org/", "source_url": "https://walnutgrove.org/museum/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Hinckley Fire Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Hinckley Fire Museum", "city": "Hinckley", "county": "Pine", "region": "St. Croix Valley & East Central", "theme": "Great Hinckley Fire of 1894", "era": "1894", "what_to_see": "Museum on the September 1, 1894 fire", "hours": "Thu-Sun 10-5", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://hinckleyfiremuseum.com/", "source_url": "https://hinckleyfiremuseum.com/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Hjemkomst Center", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County", "city": "Moorhead", "county": "Clay", "region": "Red River Valley", "theme": "Scandinavian heritage; Red River Valley", "era": "Modern replicas; county history", "what_to_see": "Hjemkomst Viking ship replica, Hopperstad Stave Church replica, Clay County museum and archives", "hours": "Mon-Sat 9-5; Tue 5-8 pm free; Sun 12-5", "admission": "See official site", "free": "partly", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.hcscconline.org/", "source_url": "https://www.hcscconline.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "History Center of Olmsted County", "type": "Museum", "operator": "History Center of Olmsted County", "city": "Rochester", "county": "Olmsted", "region": "South Lakes & Bluff Country", "theme": "County history", "era": null, "what_to_see": "County museum and research center", "hours": "Tue-Sat 9-5; Sun-Mon closed", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.olmstedhistory.com/", "source_url": "https://www.olmstedhistory.com/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Minnesota Transportation Museum", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Railroads", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Railroad roundhouse museum", "hours": "Wed and Sat 10-4", "admission": "See official site", "free": "no", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://trainride.org/", "source_url": "https://trainride.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Landmark Center", "type": "Other", "operator": "Landmark Center", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Historic building; St. Paul history programs", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Historic building; St. Paul & Ramsey County visitor information center", "hours": "Building Mon-Fri 8-5; Sat 10-5; visitor center Mon-Fri 10-2, Sat 10-4, Sun 12-3", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.landmarkcenter.org/", "source_url": "https://www.landmarkcenter.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Runestone Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Runestone Museum", "city": "Alexandria", "county": "Douglas", "region": "Central Lakes & St. Cloud", "theme": "Kensington Runestone (disputed); Douglas County history", "era": "1898 find", "what_to_see": "Kensington Runestone, found in 1898; MNopedia notes its authenticity has been debated for over a century", "hours": "Summer: Mon-Sat 10-4:30; Sun closed", "admission": "$12 adults; $10 seniors 65+/college students/teachers; $7 veterans; $25 family; under 5 free", "free": "no", "open_season": "See official site", "official_url": "https://runestonemuseum.org/", "source_url": "https://runestonemuseum.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Hennepin History Museum", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Hennepin History Museum", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Hennepin County history", "era": null, "what_to_see": "County history exhibits", "hours": "Thu-Fri 10-3; Sat 10-5", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://hennepinhistory.org/", "source_url": "https://hennepinhistory.org/visit/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mill Ruins Park", "type": "Archaeological site", "operator": "Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Flour milling; St. Anthony Falls", "era": null, "what_to_see": "Excavated flour mill ruins, tailrace canal, railroad bridge remnants at the foot of the Stone Arch Bridge", "hours": "Park 6 am-midnight (developed areas); seasonal tours", "admission": "Free", "free": "yes", "open_season": "Year-round; tours summer", "official_url": "https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks-destinations/parks-lakes/mill_ruins_park/", "source_url": "https://www.minneapolisparks.org/parks-destinations/parks-lakes/mill_ruins_park/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Wic̣aḣapi (Indian Mounds Regional Park)", "type": "Archaeological site", "operator": "City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation", "city": "St. Paul", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Indigenous burial place; Dakota and Ho-Chunk descendants", "era": "1,000+ years", "what_to_see": "Sacred burial mounds (a cemetery) on the Mississippi bluff; 10 Mounds Blvd.", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.stpaul.gov/facilities/wicahapi", "source_url": "https://www.stpaul.gov/facilities/wicahapi", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Fort Snelling National Cemetery", "type": "Memorial", "operator": "U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs", "city": "Minneapolis", "county": "Hennepin", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Military service", "era": null, "what_to_see": "National cemetery adjoining historic Fort Snelling", "hours": "Visitation weekdays 7:30 am-8 pm; weekends/federal holidays 8 am-8 pm", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftsnelling.asp", "source_url": "https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ftsnelling.asp", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Gibbs Farm", "type": "Historic village", "operator": "Ramsey County Historical Society", "city": "Falcon Heights", "county": "Ramsey", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "theme": "Dakota (Cloud Man's Village) and pioneer life", "era": null, "what_to_see": "'Pathways to Dakota & Pioneer Life' on about eight acres", "hours": "See official site", "admission": "See official site", "free": "unknown", "open_season": "Seasonal", "official_url": "https://rchs.com/gibbs-farm/", "source_url": "https://rchs.com/gibbs-farm/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Treaty Site History Center", "type": "Museum", "operator": "Nicollet County Historical Society", "city": "St. Peter", "county": "Nicollet", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "theme": "1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux and its consequences for the Dakota", "era": "1851-present", "what_to_see": "Exhibits on the treaty and Nicollet County history", "hours": "Regular hours Tue-Sat 10-4; winter changes Nov 3, 2026-Feb 28, 2027", "admission": "See official site", "free": "partly", "open_season": "Year-round", "official_url": "https://www.nchsmn.org/visit/treaty-site-history-center/", "source_url": "https://www.nchsmn.org/visit/treaty-site-history-center/", "checked": "2026-10-20" } ] }