Historic Summer Adventures at Minnesota Historical Society Sites

ST. PAUL, Minn (June 9, 2023) – Whether you’re pedaling, paddling, or just looking for fun on foot, historic adventures can be yours this summer! The Minnesota Historical Society is hosting an exciting season of activities across its network of sites. New events are being added regularly, so keep checking www.mnhs.org/calendar for updates.

Mississippi River Paddling Adventures, Forest History Center, Grand Rapids

Dates Throughout Summer

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. 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. Cost: $25, MNHS members save 20%

Bike Tour, Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul

Dates Throughout Summer

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. Cost: $20, MNHS members save 20%

Summit Avenue Walking Tour, James J. Hill House, St. Paul

Dates Throughout Summer

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; self-guided admission to the James J. Hill House is included in the ticket price. Tours do not include home interiors. Cost: $16-$20, MNHS members save 20%

Historic Walking Tours, St. Paul 

Uncover the stories of the neighborhood that powered St. Paul’s rise from humble outpost to thriving metropolis with the Historic Lowertown Walking Tour (Dates in June)

Discover the hidden histories of St. Paul’s downtown core with the Downtown St. Paul Walking Tour (Dates in July)

Explore the West End, one of St. Paul’s oldest neighborhoods, built along one of the city’s oldest roads with the West End Walking Tour (Dates in August) 

Cost: $14, MNHS Members save 20%

Sunrise Tour, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey

Dates Throughout Summer

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. Cost $25, MNHS members save 20%

Minneapolis Riverfront Walking Tour, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis

Dates Throughout Summer

Walk the Minneapolis riverfront and learn about its dramatic past. On this tour, participants will visit the historic district at St. Anthony Falls, which was once the milling center of the world and is now a growing cultural, recreational, and residential neighborhood. Highlights of the outdoor tour include the National Historic Engineering Landmark Stone Arch Bridge, and St. Anthony Falls, the only significant waterfall on the Mississippi River. Cost: $14, MNHS members save 20%

Investigate a Buffalo Rub, Jeffers Petroglyphs, Comfrey

June 10, 1 pm–3 pm

Investigate an ancient buffalo rub through multiple data sets that demonstrate the intricate connections between bison, people and prairie, and the dominant way of life that has been a part of Minnesota’s culture for 10,000 years. Cost: included with site admission

Traditional Ojibwe-Style Leather Pouch Workshop, Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia

June 17, 10 am–4 pm

Learn to make a traditional Ojibwe-style leather pouch in this one-day workshop led by Mille Lacs Band elder Carol Hernandez! Registration is required three days prior to the workshop. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $90, Mille Lacs Band members and MNHS members save 20%

Courtyard Family Days, Mill City Museum, Minneapolis

June 17 & 18

Mill City Museum, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival, and UCare invite you to join us in the Ruin Courtyard for family activities during festival hours!  Try out historic flour milling, make Father's Day cards, catch a photo op with the UCare bicycle, add to the Stone Arch Bridge weave art, and come enjoy a puppet show from Open Eye Theater at 11 am on Sunday. Cost: Free

Bands on the Boulevard, Minnesota History Center, St. Paul

Starting June 27, 6:30 pm–8:30 pm

Reggae Band Dred I Dread kicks off the return of the Minnesota History Center's outdoor music series "Bands on the Boulevard." This family-friendly event offers free concerts by local acts as well as pre-show activities and dancing. Bring a lawn chair and purchase food from the various food trucks! Activities, crafts, food trucks, and lawn games begin at 6:30 pm, music is 7 - 8:30 pm Cost: Free

Independence Day, 1898, Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul

July 1, 10 am–4 pm

Experience an Independence Day from the late 1890s at Historic Fort Snelling at the reconstructed stone fort. The festivities include a military parade, historical military music from our Historic Fort Snelling Fifes and Drums, and cannon salutes. Programming will span the entire 23 acre site including the new prairie landscape, the Plank Museum & Visitor Center, and of course the reconstructed historic fort. Cost: included with site admission

Archery Workshop, Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, Onamia

July 8, 1 pm–4 pm

Have you ever wanted to learn to shoot a bow and arrow? Let certified archery instructors on staff at Mille Lacs Indian Museum teach you how! You don't have to have any prior experience with archery to participate. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: included with site admission

About the Minnesota Historical Society

The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.