The picturesque city of Winona, Minnesota, sits along the Mississippi River with access to five state parks. From the Garvin Heights Overlook, you can take in the magnificent area from 575 feet above the valley. In addition to its natural beauty, Winona is also home to six stained-glass studios and more than 100 locations that are on the National Register of Historic Places. This is a great city for fun activities and educational excursions. Whether you’re interested in art, live theater, or history exhibits, Winona has it all.
Tour the Bunnell House
Image via Flickr byjaygannett | Licensed by CC BY-SA 2.0
The Bunnell House (160 Johnson Street) offers a glimpse at life in Winona in the late 1850s. The three-story home was constructed in the rural gothic-revival style which strives to create buildings that are harmonious with nature. The white pine exterior of the home has never been painted, giving it a simple, natural appearance.
The first level of the Bunnell House is dug into the hillside and made from stone. This creates a natural environment for a root cellar, pantry, and kitchen. The hired help may have had quarters on the first floor as well. The second level of the home was designed for entertaining, with a dining room, parlor, and a small office. A spacious porch running along the front of the home offers views of the Mississippi River. On the third floor, you’ll find three small bedrooms and a landing that can be screened off to create a traveler’s bedroom.
The home is now furnished with an assortment of items representative of life in the late 19th century, including items from the original Bunnell family. You can tour the home between Wednesday and Sunday, from June through August to take an intriguing step back in time.
Visit the DeFresne Performing Arts Center
Winona State University’s DuFresne Performing Arts Center houses three distinct venues where you can take in live performances and events.
The Vivian Fusillo Theater presents over 20 musical concerts, six to eight plays, and a selection of dance performances each year. This is also the primary venue of the annual Great River Shakespeare Festival. The Dorothy B. Magnus Black Box Theater hosts musical and dramatic performances. It can seat up to 150 and offers a flexible seating configuration for viewing in the round when desired. The Recital Hall is used primarily for solo and small ensemble performances. It also hosts speakers in lecture series.
Check the season’s schedule for the latest performances and pick an intriguing show to add to your calendar. Live theater and music offer outstanding ways to expand your cultural horizons and introduce children to new musical genres, theatrical stories, and performance types.
Browse the Watkins Heritage Museum & Store
The Watkins company has been in operation since 1868, contributing greatly to the history and heritage of Winona. Visiting the Watkins Heritage Museum & Store, located at 150 Liberty Street, is a great way to get to know the company better while picking up some of your favorite products. The company got its start when J.R. Watkins purchased the rights to Dr. Ward’s Celebrated Liniment. He began manufacturing this and other products in his kitchen. In 1885, J.R. relocated to Winona.
By 1888, 150 agents were selling Watkins’s products throughout the Midwest and parts of Canada. The product line expanded to include vanilla extract, black pepper, and cinnamon in 1895. By 1920, the company offered over 120 products.
In 2005, the Watkins Administration Building and manufacturing plant were listed on The National Register of Historic Places. The company has continued to roll out new products throughout its history, releasing a new line of organic grilling products and aromatic and orange bitters in 2021. At the Watkins Heritage Museum & Store, you can examine historic pieces of the company’s history including advertising, photos, historic products, and other memorabilia. You can also pick up some of the products that the company offers today.
Take in a Film at the Frozen River Film Festival
The Frozen River Film Festival takes place in Winona each February. This festival features educational programs on a variety of topics, ranging from environmental issues to cultural projects to adventure travel. The film festival strives to openly explore topics that aren’t readily covered in the local media, giving viewers a unique perspective.
The festival includes a selection of feature films, typically around 90 minutes in length. The festival also hosts shorts, which may range from just a few minutes to nearly an hour in length. Portions of the festival may take place online for virtual viewing due to Covid-19.
Explore the Winona County History Center
The Winona County History Center features an extensive range of exhibits that will help visitors get to know the area better. These include displays on Winona’s native peoples, geology, lumber industry, architecture, wartime efforts, and more. Explore the unique cultural heritage along this part of the Mississippi River as you look at everything from transportation to the arts.
The History Center has something for visitors of all ages. Small children can enjoy hands-on activities in The Cube. Kids age six and up can explore the award-winning Walking Through Time exhibit that includes a cave, tipi, and steamboat house.
Visit the Minnesota Marine Art Museum
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum features a stunning selection of marine artworks including pieces by Picasso, Monet, Matisse, Renoir, O’Keeffe, and Van Gogh. The permanent collections include American art, European art, and contemporary art. The museum also hosts at least eight exhibitions each year.
The museum offers educational programs for both adults and children. Historically, events like Second Saturdays and Family Fest offered outstanding ways for the community to learn more about art and take a hands-on approach to art education. Many of these programs have temporarily moved online in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Is your favorite educational activity on our list? If we missed a great destination, contact our team at Tom Kadlec Kia and let us know. We love having the best recommendations in town for our customers.
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