40 historic tours in Minnesota: 20 walking tours and ranger programs, plus house tours, rides and more. 14 are free. Prices and schedules come from each operator’s own page.
Header photo: The ‘Empire Builder’ crossing the Stone Arch Bridge, now part of the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail, on an undated postcard. Credit: Albertype Co., Hennepin County Library via Minnesota Digital Library/DPLA, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
- 40tours and trails
- 20walking tours and ranger programs
- 14free
- 7kinds of tour
- Self-guided walking
- Guided walking
- Ranger-led
- House tour
- Boat/train/trolley
- Audio/app
- Ghost & history tour
Download this data: CSV · JSON · 40 tours · free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 with a link to It’s Minnesota. All open data: catalog.json.
Self-Guided Walking Tours (9)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mille Lacs Kathio archaeology trails Two self-guided trails highlighting natural features and archaeological sites; interpretive center | Onamia | Minnesota DNR | State park vehicle permit | Year-round | See official site |
| Birch Coulee Battlefield self-guided trail 1862 battlefield of the US-Dakota War | Morton | MNHS | Free | Daily dawn to dusk (not maintained in winter) | See official site |
| Fort Ridgely grounds Site of the 1853-1867 fort | Fairfax | MNHS | Free (state park permit) | Daily 8-8 | See official site |
| Lower Sioux Agency trails Minnesota River trails, restored 1861 government building | Morton | Lower Sioux Indian Community / MNHS | Free | Daily dawn to dusk | See official site |
| Pipestone Circle Trail Quarries and landscape of Pipestone National Monument | Pipestone | National Park Service | Free | Open any time of day | 3/4 mile |
| Traverse des Sioux treaty site trails Site of the 1851 treaty | St. Peter | MNHS | Free | Daily 8-8 | See official site |
| Snake River Fur Post grounds Fur post at Ginebig-ziibi | Pine City | MNHS | Free | Daily dawn to dusk | See official site |
| Minnesota State Capitol self-guided tour Cass Gilbert’s 1905 capitol, restored 2013-2017 | St. Paul | MNHS | Free | During building hours: Mon-Fri 8-4:30; Sat 10-3 | Self-paced |
| St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail Crosses the Mississippi on the Stone Arch Bridge and Father Louis Hennepin Bridge; stories on kiosks and signs | Minneapolis | Interpretive kiosks (listed by MNHS) | Free | Year-round | 1.8-mile loop |
Guided Walking Tours (9)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Split Rock Keeper’s Tour Lighthouse and keeper’s home; capacity 10 per tour | Two Harbors | MNHS | $25 (MNHS members save 20%) | Saturdays Oct 23-Nov 22, 2026; Fri-Sun Jan 1-3, 2027; 12:00, 1:00, 2:30 pm | See official site |
| Soudan ‘Secrets of the Deep’ science tour Former University of Minnesota physics lab cavern on the 27th level; largest underground wall mural in Minnesota | Soudan | Minnesota DNR | See official site | Seasonal | 80 minutes |
| Soudan walking drift tour Soudan Iron Formation geology along the miners’ route | Soudan | Minnesota DNR | See official site | Seasonal | Two hours; three-quarter-mile drift |
| Capitol Civil War Tour Minnesota’s Civil War role through battle flags, art and more | St. Paul | MNHS | $8-$12 by ticket type | Nov 21, 2026 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm | About 90 minutes (11:00-12:30) |
| Historic Fort Snelling guided walking tour The historic fort is accessible by guided walking tour only; weather dependent | St. Paul (Fort Snelling) | MNHS | Included with site admission ($12 adults) | Thu-Sat 10-4 (fall 2026) | See official site |
| Mill Ruins Park tours Flour mill ruins and tailrace canal | Minneapolis | Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board | See official site | Seasonal: 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm (listed season May 28-Sept 5) | See official site |
| Millers’ Tour (Mill City Museum) Washburn A Mill and milling history | Minneapolis | MNHS | See official site | Nov 14, 22, 28; Dec 5, 13, 2026 at 10:30 am | See official site |
| Minnesota State Capitol guided tours Capitol history, art and architecture | St. Paul | MNHS | Free (suggested $5 donation) | Year-round; MNHS lists first tour 9:00 am/last 3:00 pm and first 10:00 am/last 2:00 pm schedules | See official site |
| Summit Avenue Walking Tours Gilded Age mansions of Summit Avenue, starting at the James J. Hill House | St. Paul | MNHS | $16-$20 depending on ticket type (see event page) | 2026 season final dates Oct 24, 25 and 31 at 10:15 am; seasonal | 90 minutes; 1.5 miles |
Ranger-Led Programs (2)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipestone cultural demonstrations Traditional cultural demonstrations and 22-minute film in the Mission 66 visitor center | Pipestone | National Park Service | Free | Visitor center hours (see site) | See official site |
| NPS ranger walks, Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock Lock walls and how the falls shaped the area’s history | Minneapolis | National Park Service | Free | Seasonal, mid-June to September | Short walks |
Historic House Tours (9)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas at the Lighthouse Holiday tour of Split Rock; capacity 10 per tour | Two Harbors | MNHS | $20; MNHS members free | Nov 27-Dec 27, 2026; 10:30 am, 12:00, 1:30 pm | See official site |
| Glensheen Classic Tour Congdon mansion and grounds on Lake Superior | Duluth | Glensheen | $20 adults; $18 seniors 62+/veterans; $8 ages 5-17 | Daily 10-4 (Oct 20-Jan 4) | Self-guided |
| W. W. Mayo House guided tours Costumed guides tell stories of the Mayo and Cosgrove families | Le Sueur | MNHS | $6 adults; $5 seniors etc.; $4 ages 5-17 | Holiday hours Nov 28-Dec 12, 2026 (Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4) | See official site |
| Wanda Gág House docent tours Attic studio, skylights and turrets that inspired Wanda Gág | New Ulm | Wanda Gág House Association | Free; suggested donation $5 | Sat 10-4; Sun 11-2 | About 45 minutes |
| A Gilded Age Christmas (Hill House) Holiday-dressed mansion | St. Paul | MNHS | Regular house admission | Nov 28, 2026-Jan 3, 2027; Thu-Sun 10-5 | See official site |
| Gammelgården guided building tours Inside the historic Swedish immigrant buildings | Scandia | Gammelgården Museum | $15 ($14 military/veterans/members of Time Traveler program; Gammelgården members free) | Fri-Sat 10:30, 12:00, 1:30; Sun 1:30 (2026 season) | See official site |
| James J. Hill House guided tours James J. Hill’s influence on the region; his family, servants, workers and guests | St. Paul | MNHS | $15 adults; $12 seniors/veterans/military/college; $8 ages 5-17 | Thu-Sun, every half hour; last tour 4:00 | 60 minutes |
| Nooks & Crannies Tour (Hill House) Rarely seen spaces of the Hill House | St. Paul | MNHS | See official site | Oct 25, Oct 29, Nov 1, Nov 5, 2026 at 3:15 pm | See official site |
| Warden’s House Museum tours Historic warden’s house | Stillwater | Washington County Historical Society | See official site | May-Oct, Thu-Sun at 1, 2, 3, 4 pm | See official site |
Historic Boat, Train and Trolley Rides (6)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore Scenic Railroad Lakefront line Narrated history of Duluth, the harbor and the railroads; departs the St. Louis County Depot | Duluth | Lake Superior Railroad Museum / North Shore Scenic Railroad | See official site | Several trains a day in summer and fall | See official site |
| Forest History Center horse-drawn trolley tour Draft horses pull a trolley through the 200-acre site: geology, natural and human history | Grand Rapids | MNHS | See official site | Seasonal | One hour |
| Minnesota Discovery Center trolley tours Iron Range history site | Chisholm | Minnesota Discovery Center | Additional fee (see site) | See official site | See official site |
| Soudan Underground Mine Tour Cage ride 2,341 feet down, underground train nearly a mile to the Montana stope | Soudan | Minnesota DNR | $15 ages 13+; $10 ages 5-12; 4 & under free | Daily Memorial Day weekend-end Sept; weekends Sept 28-Oct 18 | 90 minutes |
| Como-Harriet Streetcar Line Historic streetcars on a route between the lakes | Minneapolis | Minnesota Streetcar Museum | See official site | See official site | See official site |
| Excelsior Streetcar Line Streetcar ride through historic Excelsior | Excelsior | Minnesota Streetcar Museum | See official site | See official site | Half-mile of track |
Audio and App Tours (2)
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MNHS virtual tours 360/virtual tours offered for 14 MNHS locations (per MNHS locations filter) | Statewide (online) | MNHS | Free | Any time | Online |
| Glensheen mobile app Room-by-room audio and text, art guides | Duluth | Glensheen | Free download | Any time on site | Self-paced |
Ghost and History Tours (3)
Ghost tours mix documented history with legend. We list long-running operators with their own pages; the stories are theirs, not facts we have checked.
| Tour or trail | Where | Run by | Price | When | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glensheen lantern-light tour Guided mansion tour by lantern light | Duluth | Glensheen | See official site | Fridays and Saturdays in October | See official site |
| Lanterns & Legends Historic fort by lantern light | St. Paul (Fort Snelling) | MNHS | See official site (members save 20%); recommended for ages 12+ | October evenings (2026: Oct 24 and 30; tours start from 6:00 pm) | One hour |
| Shadows & Spirits of the State Capitol Capitol after-hours stories | St. Paul | MNHS | $12-$16 by ticket type | October evenings (2026: Oct 22, 23 and 24; one-hour tours from 6:30 pm) | One hour |
What We Could Not Verify
- MNHS gives two counts: its membership text says 26 historic sites and museums, while its locations page lists 27 locations because it also counts the Gale Family Library. We use 26.
We re-check these when the source pages change. Spot something we missed? Use the corrections page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best historic walking tour in St. Paul?
The Minnesota Historical Society’s Summit Avenue Walking Tours cover 1.5 miles of Gilded Age mansions in 90 minutes, starting at the James J. Hill House. Tickets cost $16 to $20. The last 2026 tours are October 24, 25 and 31; the free State Capitol guided tours run year-round (source: MNHS: Summit Avenue Walking Tours).
Is there a historic walking tour in Minneapolis?
Yes. The free St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail is a 1.8-mile self-guided loop with signs and kiosks that crosses the Mississippi on the Stone Arch Bridge, past the mill ruins and Mill City Museum. In summer, rangers lead walks at the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock (source: MNHS: Mill City Museum Area Attractions).
Does Minnesota have a National Heritage Area or National Historic Trail?
No. The National Park Service lists no National Heritage Area in Minnesota, and its Minnesota page lists no National Historic Trail; the North Country trail there is a scenic trail. For history on foot, start with MNHS walking tours, Capitol tours and self-guided battlefield and treaty-site trails (source: NPS: Discover National Heritage Areas).
Last checked October 20, 2026 by the It’s Minnesota editors against each operator’s, agency’s or organizer’s own page.
Sources
- Summit Avenue Walking Tours
- Minnesota State Capitol guided tours
- Capitol Civil War Tour
- Shadows & Spirits of the State Capitol
- Historic Fort Snelling guided walking tour
- Lanterns & Legends
- Split Rock Keeper’s Tour
- James J. Hill House guided tours
- Nooks & Crannies Tour (Hill House)
- Millers’ Tour (Mill City Museum)
- Forest History Center horse-drawn trolley tour
- Soudan Underground Mine Tour
- St. Anthony Falls Heritage Trail
- Mill Ruins Park tours
- Pipestone Circle Trail
- Glensheen Classic Tour
- Glensheen lantern-light tour
- North Shore Scenic Railroad Lakefront line
- Como-Harriet Streetcar Line
- Minnesota Discovery Center trolley tours
- Gammelgården guided building tours
- Warden’s House Museum tours
- Wanda Gág House docent tours
- W. W. Mayo House guided tours
- Mille Lacs Kathio archaeology trails
- Birch Coulee Battlefield self-guided trail
- Traverse des Sioux treaty site trails
- Lower Sioux Agency trails
- Snake River Fur Post grounds
- Fort Ridgely grounds
- MNHS virtual tours
Cite this page: It's Minnesota, “Historic Tours in Minnesota: Walking Tours, Trails and Ranger Programs”, itsminnesota.com/history/historic-tours/ (updated ). By the It's Minnesota editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.