Winona County Historical Society

Rural Heritage Museum
2026-07-10 10:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-11 10:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-12 10:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-29 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-30 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Rural Heritage Museum, Winona County Fairgrounds, St. Charles, Minnesota, 55972
Visit the Rural Heritage Museum on the Winona County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, MN to learn about life in the rural reaches of Winona County! It’s free!
Open for the Winona County Fair, July 9 – 12, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM and during Gladiolus Days, August 29 -30, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Please consider a free-will donation for admission!

Crazy Days Deals
2026-07-11 10:00 - 16:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Browse The Museum Shop and other participating businesses in downtown Winona for CRAZY summer deals! Crazy Days specials at the Winona County History Center include discounts, a clearance sale, and giveaways on July 10 & 11.
If you can’t make it in during Crazy days, shop daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the History Center.

Winona Walking Tours: Historic Churches
2026-07-11 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-07-12 10:30 - 11:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Explore the little known remnants of bygone days during Winona Walking Tours: Historic Churches. Join a WCHS local guide on either Saturday or Sunday for a walk to some of the historic churches of Winona. Learn about the architects and people that created these beautiful pieces of architecture and their stories — from spires to fires.
To guarantee your spot on a Winona Walking Tour, call 507-454-2723 ext. 0. Pay at the tickets desk when you check in on tour day. Fees are $10 public or $6 WCHS members, per person, per tour. All tours start and end at the Winona County History Center, are 60 minutes, include a bottle of water.
COMING UP!
August 8 & 9 • Third Street Part I
September 12 & 13 • Third Street Part II

Wide-Angle Winona Photography Exhibition Opening
2026-07-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Wide-Angle Winona: A Panoramic View is coming to the Slaggie Family Lobby & Art Gallery from July 12 – September 13, 2026! The exhibition opening reception on Sunday, July 12 from 1PM – 3PM brings you a first look into the work of local photographer Mary Farrell.
Mary has captured and documented Winona through the lens of her camera. Wide- Angle Winona: A Panoramic View features panoramic photos of Winona’s landscape, river views and landmarks. She chose the panoramic perspective because it visually showcases an expansive viewpoint that features an alternative way of experiencing one’s surroundings.

Funded by Winona Foundation.

The Story of Merchants Bank
2026-07-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
In partnership with Sandbar Storytelling Festival, Winona County Historical Society presents a public talk on “The Story of Merchants Bank.”
Founded in 1875, Merchants Bank in Winona has grown from a small community lender into a major regional financial institution. The bank is celebrated for its iconic 1912 downtown headquarters, a masterwork of Prairie School architecture. It was designed by the Minneapolis-based architectural firm Purcell, Feick & Elmslie and features an original mural of West Burns Valley by Albert Fleury.
COMING UP!
August 13 • The Story of Bluff Country Co-op
September 15 • Immigrant Stories with Project FINE

History on the River: The Legacy of Cal Fremling
2026-07-30 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-07-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Cal Fremling Cruise Boat, Winona Levee, Winona, MN, 55987
With speaker Michael Kennedy, discover the legacy of Cal Fremling. Dr. Cal Fremling was one of the foremost authorities on the endangered environment of the Upper Mississippi River and spend most of his professional career studying the human effect on the River. Fremling was a researcher and a professor for thirty-two years at Winona Sate University and the author of Immortal River: The Upper Mississippi in Ancient and Modern Times.
Cruises must be booked in advance by calling 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or stopping in the History Center. Space is limited.

Winona Walking Tours: Third Street, Part I
2026-08-08 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-08-09 10:30 - 11:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Join a WCHS local guide on either Saturday or Sunday for a historic walk down Winona’s Third Street. There’s so much to see that we had to make a sequel to this tour! Look for the companion walk coming up on September 12 -13, 2026.
To guarantee your spot on a Winona Walking Tour, call 507-454-2723 ext. 0. Pay at the tickets desk when you check in on tour day. Fees are $10 public or $6 WCHS members, per person, per tour. All tours start and end at the Winona County History Center, are 60 minutes, include a bottle of water.
COMING UP!
September 12 & 13 • Third Street Part II

History on the River: Navigating the Lock and Dam System
2026-08-27 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-08-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Cal Fremling Cruise Boat, Winona Levee, Winona, MN, 55987
Learn about the history, creation, and modern work of the Mississippi River Lock and Dam System with local lock master, Judy Denzer.
Cruises must be booked in advance by calling 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or stopping in the History Center. Space is limited.

Winona Walking Tours: Third Street, Part II
2026-09-12 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-09-13 10:30 - 11:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
The second in a two-part tour series featuring Winona’s Third Street. Even if you didn’t make the first tour, you’ll have a blast with our WCHS local guide for a walk down this historic Winona street.
To guarantee your spot on a Winona Walking Tour, call 507-454-2723 ext. 0. Pay at the tickets desk when you check in on tour day. Fees are $10 public or $6 WCHS members, per person, per tour. All tours start and end at the Winona County History Center, are 60 minutes, include a bottle of water.
