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History & Heritage

Explore Minnesota’s history, cultural traditions, people, and unique landscape. Experience ethnic heritage at events and festivals such as Native American powwows, Juneteenth, Cinco de Mayo, Oktoberfest in New Ulm, the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival in Moorhead, and many others.

See how the land has been shaped by glaciers, find fossils and petroglyphs, or learn about farming, milling, and popular culture. There are many ways to experience Minnesota’s thriving culture, from the past to today.

History & Heritage Travel Ideas

Minnesota History Exhibit Focuses on the Civil War
“Minnesota and the Civil War,” an exhibit at the Minnesota History Center in downtown St. Paul, draws on the personal stories of Minnesotans involved in the war.
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"Minnesota and the Civil War Exhibit" at the Minnesota History Center
Learn about an important time in history, and how Minnesota played a role, in this new exhibit.
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Museums Welcome History Detectives
This winter, don your detective hat and explore the fascinating and fun collections at Minnesota's history museums.
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Mysteries and Rarities At Central Minnesota History Museums
Behold a mysterious runestone, rare manuscripts, and engravings and illustrations by the world's masters at two Central Minnesota museums.
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Beer & SPAM Museums Offer a Taste of History
What do the Schell's Museum of Brewing in New Ulm and the SPAM Museum in Austin have in common? Both Southern Minnesota destinations celebrate the flavorful history of iconic products.
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Metro History Museums Highlight "Wow" Moments
Explore the fascinating and fun collections at metro-area history museums. Unravel the stories behind intriguing artifacts and learn more about Minnesota’s past.
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Museums Bring History Alive
Discover state stories at historic sites and museums across Minnesota!
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Discover Minnesota's Ethnic Heritage
Museums and sites present the stories of the Ojibwe and Dakota Indians, and of immigrants who settled in Minnesota—years ago or recently. These destinations reflect the rich tapestry that is Minnesota.
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Experience 1899 at Historic Forestville
Take a guided tour of historic Forestville in southern Minnesota and experience life at the turn of the 20th century in a Minnesota farm town.
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Tour Winona with Architecture App
“Stories in Structure: Winona Architecture Tour” is a handy smart phone app and online resource to enhance your visit to this bluff country town.
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Follow the Minnesota River Valley
Visitors are embraced with old-fashioned hospitality along this route. Scenery includes rolling farmland, small towns, and historic sites, many of which highlight Dakota Indian heritage and the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War.
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Swedish Heritage Itinerary
Make your trip a smorgasbord of Swedish and other Scandinavian culture, food, historic sites, and shopping.
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Explore Scandinavian Culture at the Hjemkomst Center
The Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead brings Scandinavian heritage to life with its Viking ship, stave church, special exhibits, and large seasonal festivals.
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History Etched in Rock at Jeffers Petroglyphs
Minnesota's recorded history begins at Jeffers, where American Indians for thousands of years have traced life stories in rock carvings.
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National Monuments: Pipestone & Grand Portage
Two sites in Minnesota are designated as National Monuments, under protection of the U.S. Park Service, for their cultural and historical significance.
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