{ "id": "mn-historic-tours", "name": "Historic Tours and Trails in Minnesota", "description": "40 historic walking tours, ranger programs, heritage trails, National Historic Trails and heritage areas in Minnesota, with operator, price, schedule and length as each operator lists them.", "page": "https://itsminnesota.com/history/historic-tours/", "csv": "https://itsminnesota.com/data/downloads/mn-historic-tours.csv", "json": "https://itsminnesota.com/data/downloads/mn-historic-tours.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 Tours and Trails in Minnesota. https://itsminnesota.com/history/historic-tours/", "publisher": "It's Minnesota", "geo_scope": "Minnesota, USA", "last_checked": "2026-10-20", "row_count": 40, "columns": [ "name", "kind", "city_or_area", "region", "operator", "price", "schedule", "length", "what_you_see", "official_url", "source_url", "checked" ], "column_notes": { "name": "Tour or trail name", "kind": "Self-guided walking, Guided walking, Ranger-led, Driving trail, National Historic Trail, Heritage area, House tour, Ghost & history tour, Boat/train/trolley, Bike or Audio/app", "city_or_area": "Where it runs", "region": "Our editorial region where one applies", "operator": "Who runs it", "price": "Price as listed, Free, or See official site", "schedule": "When it runs, as listed", "length": "Distance or duration as listed", "what_you_see": "One-sentence description", "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": "Summit Avenue Walking Tours", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$16-$20 depending on ticket type (see event page)", "schedule": "2026 season final dates Oct 24, 25 and 31 at 10:15 am; seasonal", "length": "90 minutes; 1.5 miles", "what_you_see": "Gilded Age mansions of Summit Avenue, starting at the James J. Hill House", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/49901466806", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/49901466806", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnesota State Capitol guided tours", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free (suggested $5 donation)", "schedule": "Year-round; MNHS lists first tour 9:00 am/last 3:00 pm and first 10:00 am/last 2:00 pm schedules", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Capitol history, art and architecture", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/capitol", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/capitol", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnesota State Capitol self-guided tour", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free", "schedule": "During building hours: Mon-Fri 8-4:30; Sat 10-3", "length": "Self-paced", "what_you_see": "Cass Gilbert's 1905 capitol, restored 2013-2017", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/capitol", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/capitol", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Capitol Civil War Tour", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$8-$12 by ticket type", "schedule": "Nov 21, 2026 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm", "length": "About 90 minutes (11:00-12:30)", "what_you_see": "Minnesota's Civil War role through battle flags, art and more", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/56690939224", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/56690939224", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Shadows & Spirits of the State Capitol", "kind": "Ghost & history tour", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$12-$16 by ticket type", "schedule": "October evenings (2026: Oct 22, 23 and 24; one-hour tours from 6:30 pm)", "length": "One hour", "what_you_see": "Capitol after-hours stories", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/57372366775", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/57372366775", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Historic Fort Snelling guided walking tour", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "St. Paul (Fort Snelling)", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Included with site admission ($12 adults)", "schedule": "Thu-Sat 10-4 (fall 2026)", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "The historic fort is accessible by guided walking tour only; weather dependent", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Lanterns & Legends", "kind": "Ghost & history tour", "city_or_area": "St. Paul (Fort Snelling)", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "See official site (members save 20%); recommended for ages 12+", "schedule": "October evenings (2026: Oct 24 and 30; tours start from 6:00 pm)", "length": "One hour", "what_you_see": "Historic fort by lantern light", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/60909572973", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/60909572973", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Split Rock Keeper's Tour", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "Two Harbors", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$25 (MNHS members save 20%)", "schedule": "Saturdays Oct 23-Nov 22, 2026; Fri-Sun Jan 1-3, 2027; 12:00, 1:00, 2:30 pm", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Lighthouse and keeper's home; capacity 10 per tour", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/splitrock/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Christmas at the Lighthouse", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "Two Harbors", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$20; MNHS members free", "schedule": "Nov 27-Dec 27, 2026; 10:30 am, 12:00, 1:30 pm", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Holiday tour of Split Rock; capacity 10 per tour", "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 guided tours", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$15 adults; $12 seniors/veterans/military/college; $8 ages 5-17", "schedule": "Thu-Sun, every half hour; last tour 4:00", "length": "60 minutes", "what_you_see": "James J. Hill's influence on the region; his family, servants, workers and guests", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "A Gilded Age Christmas (Hill House)", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Regular house admission", "schedule": "Nov 28, 2026-Jan 3, 2027; Thu-Sun 10-5", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Holiday-dressed mansion", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/hillhouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Nooks & Crannies Tour (Hill House)", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "St. Paul", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Oct 25, Oct 29, Nov 1, Nov 5, 2026 at 3:15 pm", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Rarely seen spaces of the Hill House", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/60921022579", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/60921022579", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Millers' Tour (Mill City Museum)", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "Minneapolis", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Nov 14, 22, 28; Dec 5, 13, 2026 at 10:30 am", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Washburn A Mill and milling history", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/60921129328", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/events/60921129328", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Forest History Center horse-drawn trolley tour", "kind": "Boat/train/trolley", "city_or_area": "Grand Rapids", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Seasonal", "length": "One hour", "what_you_see": "Draft horses pull a trolley through the 200-acre site: geology, natural and human history", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/foresthistory", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/foresthistory", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Soudan Underground Mine Tour", "kind": "Boat/train/trolley", "city_or_area": "Soudan", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "operator": "Minnesota DNR", "price": "$15 ages 13+; $10 ages 5-12; 4 & under free", "schedule": "Daily Memorial Day weekend-end Sept; weekends Sept 28-Oct 18", "length": "90 minutes", "what_you_see": "Cage ride 2,341 feet down, underground train nearly a mile to the Montana stope", "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": "Soudan 'Secrets of the Deep' science tour", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "Soudan", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "operator": "Minnesota DNR", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Seasonal", "length": "80 minutes", "what_you_see": "Former University of Minnesota physics lab cavern on the 27th level; largest underground wall mural in Minnesota", "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": "Soudan walking drift tour", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "Soudan", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "operator": "Minnesota DNR", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Seasonal", "length": "Two hours; three-quarter-mile drift", "what_you_see": "Soudan Iron Formation geology along the miners' route", "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": "St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Minneapolis", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "Interpretive kiosks (listed by MNHS)", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Year-round", "length": "1.8-mile loop", "what_you_see": "Crosses the Mississippi on the Stone Arch Bridge and Father Louis Hennepin Bridge; stories on kiosks and signs", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millcity/visit/area-attractions", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millcity/visit/area-attractions", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "NPS ranger walks, Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock", "kind": "Ranger-led", "city_or_area": "Minneapolis", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "National Park Service", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Seasonal, mid-June to September", "length": "Short walks", "what_you_see": "Lock walls and how the falls shaped the area's history", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/miss/", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/millcity/visit/area-attractions", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mill Ruins Park tours", "kind": "Guided walking", "city_or_area": "Minneapolis", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Seasonal: 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm (listed season May 28-Sept 5)", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Flour mill ruins and tailrace canal", "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": "Pipestone Circle Trail", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Pipestone", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "National Park Service", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Open any time of day", "length": "3/4 mile", "what_you_see": "Quarries and landscape of Pipestone National Monument", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/pipe/", "source_url": "https://www.nps.gov/pipe/planyourvisit/hours.htm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Pipestone cultural demonstrations", "kind": "Ranger-led", "city_or_area": "Pipestone", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "National Park Service", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Visitor center hours (see site)", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Traditional cultural demonstrations and 22-minute film in the Mission 66 visitor center", "official_url": "https://www.nps.gov/pipe/", "source_url": "https://www.nps.gov/pipe/planyourvisit/hours.htm", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Glensheen Classic Tour", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "Duluth", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "operator": "Glensheen", "price": "$20 adults; $18 seniors 62+/veterans; $8 ages 5-17", "schedule": "Daily 10-4 (Oct 20-Jan 4)", "length": "Self-guided", "what_you_see": "Congdon mansion and grounds on Lake Superior", "official_url": "https://glensheen.org/", "source_url": "https://glensheen.org/visit/tours-admissions/classic-full-mansion-tours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Glensheen lantern-light tour", "kind": "Ghost & history tour", "city_or_area": "Duluth", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "operator": "Glensheen", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Fridays and Saturdays in October", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Guided mansion tour by lantern light", "official_url": "https://glensheen.org/", "source_url": "https://glensheen.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "North Shore Scenic Railroad Lakefront line", "kind": "Boat/train/trolley", "city_or_area": "Duluth", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "operator": "Lake Superior Railroad Museum / North Shore Scenic Railroad", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "Several trains a day in summer and fall", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Narrated history of Duluth, the harbor and the railroads; departs the St. Louis County Depot", "official_url": "https://lsrm.org/train-excursions/", "source_url": "https://lsrm.org/train-excursions/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Como-Harriet Streetcar Line", "kind": "Boat/train/trolley", "city_or_area": "Minneapolis", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "Minnesota Streetcar Museum", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "See official site", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Historic streetcars on a route between the lakes", "official_url": "https://trolleyride.org/", "source_url": "https://trolleyride.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Excelsior Streetcar Line", "kind": "Boat/train/trolley", "city_or_area": "Excelsior", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "Minnesota Streetcar Museum", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "See official site", "length": "Half-mile of track", "what_you_see": "Streetcar ride through historic Excelsior", "official_url": "https://trolleyride.org/", "source_url": "https://trolleyride.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Minnesota Discovery Center trolley tours", "kind": "Boat/train/trolley", "city_or_area": "Chisholm", "region": "Iron Range & Voyageurs", "operator": "Minnesota Discovery Center", "price": "Additional fee (see site)", "schedule": "See official site", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Iron Range history site", "official_url": "https://www.mndiscoverycenter.org/", "source_url": "https://www.mndiscoverycenter.org/plan-a-visit/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Gammelgården guided building tours", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "Scandia", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "Gammelgården Museum", "price": "$15 ($14 military/veterans/members of Time Traveler program; Gammelgården members free)", "schedule": "Fri-Sat 10:30, 12:00, 1:30; Sun 1:30 (2026 season)", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Inside the historic Swedish immigrant buildings", "official_url": "https://gammelgardenmuseum.org/", "source_url": "https://gammelgardenmuseum.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Warden's House Museum tours", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "Stillwater", "region": "Twin Cities Metro", "operator": "Washington County Historical Society", "price": "See official site", "schedule": "May-Oct, Thu-Sun at 1, 2, 3, 4 pm", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Historic warden's house", "official_url": "https://www.wchsmn.org/", "source_url": "https://www.wchsmn.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Wanda Gág House docent tours", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "New Ulm", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "Wanda Gág House Association", "price": "Free; suggested donation $5", "schedule": "Sat 10-4; Sun 11-2", "length": "About 45 minutes", "what_you_see": "Attic studio, skylights and turrets that inspired Wanda Gág", "official_url": "https://wandagaghouse.org/", "source_url": "https://wandagaghouse.org/visit/", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "W. W. Mayo House guided tours", "kind": "House tour", "city_or_area": "Le Sueur", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "$6 adults; $5 seniors etc.; $4 ages 5-17", "schedule": "Holiday hours Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026 (Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4)", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Costumed guides tell stories of the Mayo and Cosgrove families", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/mayohouse", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/mayohouse", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Mille Lacs Kathio archaeology trails", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Onamia", "region": "Central Lakes & St. Cloud", "operator": "Minnesota DNR", "price": "State park vehicle permit", "schedule": "Year-round", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Two self-guided trails highlighting natural features and archaeological sites; interpretive center", "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": "Birch Coulee Battlefield self-guided trail", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Morton", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Daily dawn to dusk (not maintained in winter)", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "1862 battlefield of the US-Dakota War", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/birchcoulee", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/birchcoulee", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Traverse des Sioux treaty site trails", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "St. Peter", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Daily 8-8", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Site of the 1851 treaty", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/traversedessioux", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/traversedessioux", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Lower Sioux Agency trails", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Morton", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "Lower Sioux Indian Community / MNHS", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Daily dawn to dusk", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Minnesota River trails, restored 1861 government building", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lowersioux", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/lowersioux", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Snake River Fur Post grounds", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Pine City", "region": "St. Croix Valley & East Central", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Daily dawn to dusk", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Fur post at Ginebig-ziibi", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/furpost", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/furpost/visit/hours", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Fort Ridgely grounds", "kind": "Self-guided walking", "city_or_area": "Fairfax", "region": "Minnesota River Valley & Prairielands", "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free (state park permit)", "schedule": "Daily 8-8", "length": "See official site", "what_you_see": "Site of the 1853-1867 fort", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortridgely", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/fortridgely", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "MNHS virtual tours", "kind": "Audio/app", "city_or_area": "Statewide (online)", "region": null, "operator": "MNHS", "price": "Free", "schedule": "Any time", "length": "Online", "what_you_see": "360/virtual tours offered for 14 MNHS locations (per MNHS locations filter)", "official_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/locations?virtual_tour=1", "source_url": "https://www.mnhs.org/locations", "checked": "2026-10-20" }, { "name": "Glensheen mobile app", "kind": "Audio/app", "city_or_area": "Duluth", "region": "Duluth & North Shore", "operator": "Glensheen", "price": "Free download", "schedule": "Any time on site", "length": "Self-paced", "what_you_see": "Room-by-room audio and text, art guides", "official_url": "https://glensheen.org/", "source_url": "https://glensheen.org/", "checked": "2026-10-20" } ] }