Make a Local Gift Basket
2025-12-31 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Combine your Museum Shop purchases into a fun local gift. Basket, wrap, and ribbon included with $25 purchase or more (starting Dec. 1, while supplies last).

Postponed: Murder in the Vault
2026-01-23 18:30 - 21:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
This event has been postponed due to extreme cold. View rescheduled event listing here.

It’s Murder Mystery Night at the Museum! During “Murder in the Vault,” learn how the archivist “became history.” Was it the museum director, janitor, collection manager, intern, board member, or a volunteer? Will you be able to solve the mystery?
Event Schedule:
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for arrival with light refreshments and a cash bar. From 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., we collaborate with performers in a fun, theatrical game of “who-done-it.” Interview the suspects throughout the History Center and win prizes for being the best detectives.
How to Join the Mystery:
Pre-Sale Tickets: $30 | Week Of: $40
Tickets Available: Online or in person at the Winona County Historical Society. Space is limited, so get your tickets early.
Your Hosts:
This event is a co-fundraiser for the Winona County History Center and Theatre du Mississippi. Founded in 1997 and incorporated in 1998, Theatre du Mississippi is committed to the development and production of high-quality programs in the performing arts, particularly shows that simultaneously entertain and enlighten audiences. They aim to integrate artistic excellence and originality with a sense of community in the Winona area and beyond.

History Buff Book Chat: Red Heart
2026-01-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For our January History Buff Book Chat, we will discuss Red Heart by James Thom. The novel follows the Slocum family, white settlers in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and “it is from this good-hearted family that Frances is abducted during the Revolutionary war.”
Join in a conversation about a different book each month from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The Book Chat group is open to everyone. Meet in Wanek Hall on the second floor of the Winona County History Center. Feel free to bring your lunch!
Upcoming books:
Bregdan Chronicles: Storm Clouds Rolling In | February 25
All the Light We Cannot See | March 25
The Briar Club | April 22

Vintage Valentines
2026-02-11 15:00 - 18:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For this Museum Makers Class, stop in the History Center between 3 – 6 p.m. to create up to three vintage valentines! All supplies are included and class leaders will provide ideas, inspiration, and some history of valentines.
Valentine cards evolved from handwritten notes in the 15th century to ornate, mass-produced creations in the Victorian era, fueled by postal reforms and printing advances. Esther A. Howland become the “Mother of the American Valentine” for her 1840s commercial success in the U.S. with elaborate, laced designs.
This drop-in style class is $5 for members and $8 for the public. You can pay upon arrival. Groups are welcome, please give us a heads-up by calling 507-454- 2723 ext. 0 or 3. Open for all ages, but best for those 6 and older. Adults must accompany children.

History Buff Book Chat: Storm Clouds Rolling In
2026-02-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For our February History Buff Book Chat, we will discuss Bregdan Chronicles: Storm Clouds Rolling In by Ginny Dye.
This book launches The Bregdan Chronicles, a sweeping saga of courage, sacrifice, and resilience told through both Black and White, Free and Enslaved, Northern and Southern characters during the Civil War. Carrie Cromwell, fiery and strong-willed, finds herself torn between the South’s traditions and the dangerous truths she discovers through the Underground Railroad. As war erupts, every choice she makes risks her family, her freedom, and the lives of those she loves most.
Meet in Wanek Hall on the second floor of the Winona County History Center. Feel free to bring your lunch!

Upcoming Books:
All the Light We Cannot See | March 25
The Briar Club | April 22
This Tender Land | May 27
The Kitchen Front | June 24

Murder in the Vault
2026-02-27 18:30 - 21:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
GET TICKETS HERE
It’s Murder Mystery Night at the Museum! During “Murder in the Vault,” learn how the archivist “became history.” Was it the museum director, janitor, collection manager, intern, board member, or a volunteer? Will you be able to solve the mystery?
Event Schedule:
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for arrival with light refreshments and a cash bar. From 7:00 to 9:30 p.m., we collaborate with performers in a fun, theatrical game of “who-done-it.” Interview the suspects throughout the History Center and win prizes for being the best detectives.
How to Join the Mystery:
Pre-Sale Tickets: $30 | Week Of: $40
Tickets Available: Online or in person at the Winona County Historical Society. Space is limited, so get your tickets early.
Your Hosts:
This event is a co-fundraiser for the Winona County History Center and Theatre du Mississippi. Founded in 1997 and incorporated in 1998, Theatre du Mississippi is committed to the development and production of high-quality programs in the performing arts, particularly shows that simultaneously entertain and enlighten audiences. They aim to integrate artistic excellence and originality with a sense of community in the Winona area and beyond.

History Buff Book Chat: All the Light We Cannot See
2026-03-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For our March History Buff Book Chat, we will discuss All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.
Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris, and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.
Join in a conversation about a different book each month from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The Book Chat group is open to everyone. Meet in Wanek Hall on the second floor of the Winona County History Center. Feel free to bring your lunch!
Upcoming books:
The Briar Club | April 22
This Tender Land | May 27
The Kitchen Front | June 24

Members-Only 91st Annual Meeting
2026-03-26 19:00 - 20:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Mark your calendars for the members-only 91st Annual Meeting of the Winona County Historical Society. We invite you to enjoy a program by Reggie McLeod, following a short business meeting. Then, gather for a dessert reception to celebrate another year of history!

Art Inspired by the Archives Gallery Opening
2026-03-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
You’re invited to the gallery opening of Art Inspired by the Archives at Winona County History Center on Saturday, March 28th from 5:30PM to 7:00PM!
Art Inspired by the Archives invited community members to explore the Winona County Historical Society’s archives, discover an object that inspired them, and create an original artwork. The word “inspire” comes from the Latin inspirare—“to breathe into”—reminding us that creativity enlivens the past, giving it new relevance. The archives are a rich source of meaning for our community—both in what they preserve and what they do not. As community members reinterpret these archival objects, they breathe new life into history, drawing us all into a more connected and meaningful present.

Museum Makers Class: Pisanki Egg Decorating
2026-04-01 13:00 - 15:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Registration Required: Call 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or stop in at the History Center. Class limit 12 people.
Cost: $10 for WCHS members and $15 for non-members. No refunds unless class is cancelled by WCHS.
The seasonal favorite is back — Pisanki Egg Decorating! A WCHS class leader will help you to create your own colorful egg masterpiece. All the supplies are provided, and you can take your decorated egg home. Best for 12 and older, any minors must be accompanied by an adult.
Pisanki (Polish) or Pysanky (Ukrainian) are traditional Slavic decorated eggs, created using a wax-resist method (batik) to draw designs or
symbols with beeswax before dipping in dyes. The wax is then melted off to reveal all the colors and full design.

The Winona County History Center is open daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at 160 Johnson St. in downtown Winona. Not a member? It is always a great time to join! Call 507.454.2723 or visit winonahistory.org to find more!

Cole Redhorse Taylor: Ledger Art Debut & Conversation
2026-04-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
REGISTER HERE
Please join your host, Art of the Rural, on Friday, April 17th from 6PM – 8PM at the Winona County History Center for a community meal and conversation with Cole Redhorse Taylor Art.
Cole will be debuting a new ledger art piece that takes its inspiration from a ledger artwork in the collection of the Winona County Historical Society that is currently in the process of being returned to the Dakota community. The advent of Cole’s work recognizes this action, alongside local intercultural efforts in recent years, as important commitments toward building responsible and durable relationships between the Winona community and Dakota people. We are honored to share Cole’s piece and to offer this opportunity to gather for a meal and conversation.
Food will be served at 6PM, followed by a conversation at 6:30PM. This event is free and all are welcome.
About the artist:
Cole Redhorse Taylor is an enrolled member with the Prairie Island Dakota Community, of the Mdewakanton band. Cole lives and works on his people’s reservation located in the heart of Mni Sota Makoce.
Cole received his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with an emphasis in Drawing and Painting. Cole has worked in many different mediums, both in customary Dakota art forms such as beadwork, quillwork and textile work, as well as with drawing, painting, collage, and digital illustration. Cole’s work is informed by his people’s proximity to their homelands that stories their ancestral ties to it, spanning since time immemorial.
Cole has works in private collections and also has exhibited at the Minnesota Historical Society, All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis, Red Cloud Heritage Center in Pine Ridge South Dakota, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, and also at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
***
This Spillway Fellowship artwork was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
This Spillway event is made possible through multi-year program support from the The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

History Buff Book Chat: The Briar Club
2026-04-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For our April History Buff Book Chat, we will discuss The Briar Club by Kate Quinn.
Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era and evoking the changing roles for women in postwar America, The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.
Join in a conversation about a different book each month from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The Book Chat group is open to everyone. Meet in Wanek Hall on the second floor of the Winona County History Center. Feel free to bring your lunch!

The American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit
2026-05-03 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-04 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-05 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-06 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-07 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-08 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-09 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-10 10:00 - 16:00 and 4 more dates | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
How were the lives of ordinary people affected by the events of the American Revolutionary War?
From an award-winning website to an in-demand pop-up exhibition, the American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit, a collaborative project of the American Battlefield Trust and the Daughters of the American Revolution (opens in a new window) is beginning a new phase in its quest to connect modern audiences with the fascinating story of our nation’s origin. The American Revolution Experience will travel to scores of libraries, historical societies and museums through 2027, introducing visitors to a cast of historical characters with diverse experiences throughout the conflict and the places they visited on their journey.
This innovative pop-up exhibition includes display panels and interactive digital kiosks that use storytelling, illustration, technology and unique artifacts and primary accounts to connect modern audiences with the people and places that shaped the birth of our nation.
The Experience will be available to view at the Winona County History Center from 10am – 4pm daily from May 3rd, 2026 through May 14th, 2026.

Historic Jazz Jam Fundraiser
2026-05-17 14:30 - 17:30 | Two Fathoms Brewing
For the love of history, have a beer at the Historic Jazz Jam Fundraiser!
On Sunday, May 17th from 2:30 – 5:30PM, H3O Jazz Trio and Two Fathoms Brewing will dedicate their Jazz Jam to the Winona County Historical Society in anticipation of our full schedule of History on the River cruises.
The widely popular History on the River educational cruise series returns this summer. Join the Winona County Historical Society on the river to celebrate local history, storytelling, culture, the arts, and more. From May through August, each month offers a different program with two time options, one at 4 p.m. and another at 6 p.m. Visit the WCHS events page for more.
H3O Jazz Trio and Two Fathoms Brewing (formerly Island City) have helped support local nonprofits with over $80,000 in total donations thanks to the generosity of Jazz Jam patrons! Last month’s Jazz Jam contributed $x1,390 supporting the Friends of the Winona Public Library. In addition to H3O matching all donations, Two Fathoms Brewing contributes 20% of their Jazz Jam Sunday profits!
Come early to raise a glass to history and enjoy an afternoon of great music with H3O Jazz Trio and friends … all while showing your support for our community! An up-to-date schedule is always available at H3OJazz.com. The family-friendly Jazz Jam is free and open to all – young and not so young.

History Buff Book Chat: This Tender Land
2026-05-27 12:00 - 13:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For our May History Buff Book Chat, we will discuss This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger.
In the summer of 1932, on the banks of Minnesota’s Gilead River, Odie O’Banion is an orphan confined to the Lincoln Indian Training School, a pitiless place where his lively nature earns him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee after committing a terrible crime, he and his brother, Albert, their best friend, Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.
Join in a conversation about a different book each month from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. The Book Chat group is open to everyone. Meet in Wanek Hall on the second floor of the Winona County History Center. Feel free to bring your lunch!
Upcoming books:
The Kitchen Front | June 24

History on the River: Pushing the River
2026-05-28 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:30 | Cal Fremling Cruise Boat, Winona Levee, Winona, MN, 55987
Frank Bures is the author of Pushing the River: An Epic Battle, a Lost History, a Near Death, and Other True Canoeing Stories, published by Minnesota Historical Society. In his program aboard the Cal Fremling, Bures will tell some of the exciting and adventurous tales from his new book. He grew up in Winona and is a former reporter for the Winona Daily News. Copies of Pushing the River will be available to purchase on the cruise.
Cruises must be booked in advance by calling 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or stopping in the History Center. Space is limited.

The Story of Blooming Grounds Coffeehouse
2026-06-04 19:00 - 20:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Don’t miss out on your chance to learn all about the story of Blooming Grounds Coffeehouse!
Hear from Amy Jo Marks about her downtown Winona staple, Blooming Grounds. After getting her degree in Criminal Justice, Amy Jo decided to follow her passion for baking and working in customer service by opening a coffeehouse. She mixed a cozy atmosphere with homemade baked goods starting in 2003. The successful business soon opened a second location, and Amy Jo also expanded offerings downtown with a cocktail bar, Muddled Thyme.

The River Gallery Open House
2026-06-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
A modern museum experience awaits at Winona County Historical Society Museum on June 13th! Help us celebrate new The River Gallery during our open house from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Peruse the updated second floor of the Armory Exhibits Hall with free admission. Grab some light refreshments before you go!
About The River Gallery
The River Gallery is the culmination of community engagement, creative construction, local artists, and WCHS staff and volunteers coming together to share stories about living beside — and sometimes on — the mighty Mississippi River.
Explore new perspectives on intriguing river topics, including Dakota connections to the Mississippi, the Latsch Island Boathouse Community, river conservation, steamboats, the lumber industry, and the people who lived and worked along the water. Exhibits also show how roads and railways expanded travel beyond the River.
Did you know? A River Gallery Sneak-Peek
Did you know companies used to “farm” ice on the river?
The Mississippi River’s abundance of ice gave work to seasonal laborers like Harry Bemis. Harry and his fellow harvesters sawed blocks of ice from their employer’s ice fields. The process involved marking plows, ice saws, pike poles, huge tongs, and horse teams with spiked ice shoes. Some companies even planed the ice blocks, leaving only the cleanest, clearest ice.
Check out their equipment and hear more about Harry’s work in The River Gallery.
Exhibits on Level 1 in the main exhibit hall, such as the Stories In Structure and The Joy of the Arts exhibit, will also reopen for the rest of 2026.
Coming Soon
An updated, interactive Children’s Exhibit and a Native-led exhibit and art show will open this fall! Stay tuned and watch the process throughout the summer on social media at @winonacountyhistory.
