The American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit
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, 2026-05-11 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-12 10:00 - 16:00, 2026-05-13 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) and 1 more date | 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.

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.

Bunnell House & Homer Heritage Day
2026-06-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Bunnell House, 36016 Old Homer Road Homer, MN, Homer, Minnesota, 55987
The Bunnell House will be open for self-guided tours during Homer Heritage Day on Saturday, June 27th. The lively Homer, Minnesota community will be celebrating their history and heritage with historic site tours and other activities from 10am – 3pm.
The Bunnell House is a historic house museum. It belonged to Willard and Matilda Bunnell, who built it around 1850. The Bunnells trapped and traded for a living during the turbulent time of westward expansion in America. Willard’s brother, Lafayette Bunnell, lived in the home after the couple’s passing and often gave lectures in the parlor about his adventures.
Watch for more details on Homer Heritage Day activities and more tours and programs at the Bunnell House this summer and fall!

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.

America 250: Colonial Games
2026-07-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Winona Public Library, 151 W 5th Street, Winona, Minnesota, 55987
Step back in time with the Winona Public Library and the Winona County Historical Society as we remember America 250 with an afternoon of Colonial‐era fun.
On July 2nd from 2PM – 3PM at the Winona Public Library, families are invited to try their hand at traditional games from Colonial times and work together to crack clues in a special 1776‐themed escape room. It’s a playful way to explore history, teamwork, and curiosity, all in one activity-packed event.
Best for ages 6 and up. Children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Rural Heritage Museum
2026-07-09 10:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-10 10:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-11 10:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-12 10:00 - 19:00 | 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
2026-07-10 10:00 - 16:00, 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 | 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
