Rochester, Mn, is a beautiful place to visit with a number of historic sites and museums. We’ve chosen three museums we think you should visit whenever you’re in Rochester.
History Center of Olmsted County
The History Center of Olmsted County covers 54 acres that contain two historic farms, historic structures, and the History Center museum. The museum contains the History Center’s permanent collection of artifacts, as well as temporary exhibits. The History Center of Olmsted County provides tours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
One of the best ways to see the History Center campus is to go for a hike. The half-mile George Stoppel Trail is an easy walk that takes you past the George Stoppel Farmstead and the Hadley Valley Schoolhouse. The Scenic Trail is one and one-third miles long and traverses the campus, going past the George Stoppel and Ralph Stoppel farmsteads, the William Dee Log Cabin, the baseball field, and the tinsmith shop.
The next big event for the History Center is the Living History Fair July 20 and 21. The activities will include Civil War encampments and battle re-enactments, Civil War medical demonstrations, Union and Confederate infantry and artillery, vintage baseball games, fiber arts and crafts displays, 1860s firearms, and more.
Two historical day camps for kids are also scheduled. The Pioneer Life at the Cabin Day Camp, scheduled for July 24 from 10 a.m to 2 p.m., will show children what life was like 150 years ago in and around a cabin. The Summer Schoolhouse Day Camp will be held Aug. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to show children what a school day was like 150 years ago.
Charles E. Gagnon Museum & Sculpture Garden
The Charles E. Gagnon Museum & Sculpture Garden honors Gagnon’s legacy of 50 years in creating bronze sculpture. His wife, Arlyn Gagnon, founded the museum and is its executive director. Gagnon’s art spans from 1962 to his death in 2012. He meant for his evocative sculptures to give hope and inspire peace.
Visitors can take guided museum tours of the Gagnon home, galleries, and studio. The museum is currently hosting a special exhibition through Aug. 18 featuring the first public display of Gagnon’s figurative drawings. Other exhibitions will begin in October 2019 and February 2020.
The Charles E. Gagnon Museum & Sculpture Garden is at 2500 Fourth St. SW. It’s open for tours Wednesday through Sunday from 10-11:30 a.m. and from 2-2:30 p.m.
Heritage House Victorian Museum
The Heritage House Victorian Museum gives visitors a taste of life in the 1800s. Timothy and Eliza Whiting were the first owners of the beautiful Italianate-style house, which was built in 1875. The structure survived an 1883 tornado, and in the next century, it was scheduled to be demolished, but resident Louise Hill stopped the demolition. The historic house was relocated to Central Park in 1972, where it was restored and filled with Victorian furnishings and decor.
Docent-led tours are held in June, July, and August. The museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 1-3:30 p.m. or by appointment. A guided tour takes 45-60 minutes.
These three museums are integral to the Rochester, Mn, experience. You can enjoy them anytime you’re here, as there’s always something new to see.
Image by Greg Gjerdingen is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0
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