History on the River: Pushing the River
2026-05-28 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-05-28 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | 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.

Winona Walking Tours: Homes of Windom Park
2026-06-13 10:30 - 11:30, 2026-06-14 10:30 - 11:30 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Join a local guide on a Winona Walking Tour to learn about the homes of Windom Park Historic District! Explore the lives of those who built the incredible mansions surrounding Windom Park and some of the other sites along the way.
To guarantee your spot, pre-register by calling 507-454-2723 ext. 0. Pay at the tickets desk when you check in on tour day (walk-ins welcome). Fees are $10 public or $6 WCHS members, per person, per tour. All tours start and end at the Winona County History Center and last for 60 minutes. Each tour includes a bottle of water.

History Buff Book Chat: The Kitchen Front
2026-06-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
For our June History Buff Book Chat, we will discuss The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan.
Two years into World War II, Britain is feeling her losses: The Nazis have won battles, the Blitz has destroyed cities, and U-boats have cut off the supply of food. In an effort to help housewives with food rationing, a BBC radio program called The Kitchen Front is holding a cooking contest—and the grand prize is a job as the program’s first-ever female co-host. For four very different women, winning the competition would present a crucial chance to change their lives.
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:

History on the River: The Clamming and Pearl Button Industry
2026-06-25 16:00 - 17:30, 2026-06-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Cal Fremling Cruise Boat, Winona Levee, Winona, MN, 55987
In “The Clamming and Pearl Button Industry as Told by a Clammer’s Wife,” storyteller Terry Visger shares a variety of stories for people of all ages. Taking on the persona of a clammer’s wife from 1900, Terry tells the story of the clamming industry in which freshwater mussels were harvested from the Mississippi River, sent to factories, and made into buttons. After the story, Terry shares information about these mussels, which are now one of the most endangered animals in the US.
Cruises must be booked in advance by calling 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or stopping in the History Center. Space is limited.

Incorporating Native Plants Into Home Gardens
2026-06-30 13:30 - 15:00 | Winona County History Center, 160 Johnson Street, Winona, MN, 55987
Cavan Mittage-McNaught works as the Education and Outreach specialist for Prairie Moon Nursery. Cavan’s program “Seed Starting & How to Incorporate Native Plants Into Home Gardens” will focus on how we can all support the environment in our own yards by choosing native plants. Fifty Meadow Blazingstar prairie plants (Liatris Ligulistylis) will be given away during Cavan’s program.
The “Incorporating Native Plants” program is hosted in conjunction with the art show Beneath our Fields: A reflection on what existed prior to our Croplands, featuring drawings by Lois Peterson. Lois’s work will be on display in the Slaggie Family Lobby gallery space on the first floor of Winona County History Center from May 16 – July 15.

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.

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.
