Runestone Museum Foundation

Runestone Museum Foundation Regional History Museum with audio tour stops, children's activities, movies, & historical buildings!

Welcome to the Runestone Museum, located in what is now downtown Alexandria, Minnesota. We invite you to stop by and tour historic Fort Alexandria, take your picture with Big Ole, and see the world famous Kensington Runestone. For awhile you will live in the past, so walk a little slower, talk a little slower, and enjoy the exhibition on Norse history, the Native American exhibit, the Minnesota wi

ldlife display, the display of early pioneer life, and the hands-on children’s area. Enter Fort Alexandria and visit several authentic log buildings, an 1880 country school house, and view the forty-foot viking ship, the Snorri. Experience the changing of the seasons in the display of tools and farm equipment used by an earlier generation. The Runestone Gift Shop features Minnesota and Alexandria souvenirs, viking and runestone information, books, t-shirts, viking helmets and swords, and unique gifts, which many of them are by local artists, authors, and craftsmen. Admissions
Adults: $10.00
Seniors: $9.00
Student (High school or College): $7.00
Family: $25.00
Group Rates Available for 20+ people

01/17/2025

“Superior never gives up her dead.” With over 350 shipwrecks and 10,000 lives lost, Lake Superior is a treasure trove of stories about tragedy, heroism, and the power of nature.

Join us at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum for February’s Hot Chocolate & History to explore these tales through images, data, and underwater scans from decades of archaeology.

What to Expect:
— A fascinating talk on well-known and lesser-known shipwrecks of Lake Superior
— Hot chocolate to welcome you upon arrival

There is an option to access the recording if you can’t attend in person!

Click here to reserve your spot:
https://tce.me/iVzhsV

Alexandria Community Education in collaboration withRunestone Museum Foundation presents the Hot Chocolate & History cla...
01/17/2025

Alexandria Community Education in collaboration with
Runestone Museum Foundation presents the Hot Chocolate & History class on March 13th, 6:30pm. Register in the link

The controversy is over 100 years old: Did an immigrant Swedish farmer find a buried rock in 1898 that contained an ancient runic message carved by Viking explorers in 1362? Or is the whole thing a hoax, perpetrated by the farmer or someone else? The instructor will present both sides of the controv...

Here at the museum we rely on awesome volunteers to help update, maintain and create exhibits. They also use their skill...
09/25/2024

Here at the museum we rely on awesome volunteers to help update, maintain and create exhibits. They also use their skills to plant gardens, landscape and fix things around the fort grounds. We may be biased but we think we have some of the best volunteers around! They have done amazing things at the museum this spring and summer and we couldn't be more proud!

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Runestone Museum Foundation

The wonderful artist that did the basket weaving for the frame for this painting stopped by the museum!Alexandria Lakes ...
09/17/2024

The wonderful artist that did the basket weaving for the frame for this painting stopped by the museum!

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce

We finished the final step of landscaping the front of the building on Wednesday! Shoutout to the Alexandria Blizzard fo...
09/13/2024

We finished the final step of landscaping the front of the building on Wednesday! Shoutout to the Alexandria Blizzard for lending a helping hand with the heavy rock we put down. We always appreciate the support that is offered from the community. Come by and check out the new paint and the new plants!

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Runestone Museum Foundation

Thank you to everyone that came out for Oletoberfest last weekend! We had so much fun raising funds for Big Ole. See you...
09/11/2024

Thank you to everyone that came out for Oletoberfest last weekend! We had so much fun raising funds for Big Ole. See you all next year!

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commercer Copper Trail Brewing Company
Runestone Museum Foundation
Explore Alexandria MN

Stop by Copper Trail Brewing today through Sunday for Oletoberfest! There will be beer, food and Big Ole Merch!
09/06/2024

Stop by Copper Trail Brewing today through Sunday for Oletoberfest! There will be beer, food and Big Ole Merch!

Calling all music lovers 🎼 We know you'll love our collection of pianos, radios and more! Let us know in the comments wh...
08/16/2024

Calling all music lovers 🎼 We know you'll love our collection of pianos, radios and more! Let us know in the comments what instrument(s) you play!

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Runestone Museum Foundation

Thank you so much to everyone who attended our 40th Annual Steak Fry Fundraiser!! We had such a fun night of food, games...
08/09/2024

Thank you so much to everyone who attended our 40th Annual Steak Fry Fundraiser!! We had such a fun night of food, games and giveaways. A special thanks to those who who bought a table as well. We all had so much fun! Thank you to Explore Alexandria for bringing over their Big Ole blow up.

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Runestone Museum Foundation, Bremer Bank, Aagard, , Alexandria Industries, Viking Bank, Explore Alexandria MN, Garden Center Lanes, Jessica Ptacek

Join us at the museum August 1-3 for some crazy days deals! We will be offering buy one get one free admission as well a...
07/31/2024

Join us at the museum August 1-3 for some crazy days deals! We will be offering buy one get one free admission as well as $5 off a family admission. We will also have some gift shop items on sale as well.

It's the final week to purchase Steak Fry Fundraiser Tickets! Stop in or call 320-763-3160 if you are interested. We are...
07/30/2024

It's the final week to purchase Steak Fry Fundraiser Tickets! Stop in or call 320-763-3160 if you are interested.

We are also looking for a few volunteers for the event as well, call and ask for Emily if you are interested.

Big things are happening at the museum! Thank you to Jayme's Out and About Painting for all the hard work. We will be re...
07/24/2024

Big things are happening at the museum! Thank you to Jayme's Out and About Painting for all the hard work. We will be remaining open while all the work is being done so stop by!

We are busy planning our 40th annual Steak Fry Fundraiser! It is on August 7th. See picture for details. Come in to purc...
07/05/2024

We are busy planning our 40th annual Steak Fry Fundraiser! It is on August 7th. See picture for details. Come in to purchase the tickets or go online https://runestonemuseum.org/product-category/tickets/ . Make sure you put all your info for the raffle and choose your dinner in the notes. We will also need to know if you want them sent or if you will pick up at the event.

07/03/2024

We will be OPEN for the 4th and 5th of July!!
From 10 AM to 4:30 PM

06/28/2024

Calling all plant lovers!! We are looking to redo the landscaping in front of the museum building, so we are offering all the plants that are there for free. You can come dig up what you want from today until Tuesday. We have shasta daisies, cone flowers, rudibeckia, phlox, gaillardia, aster, milkweed, russian sage, mums, lilies, iris, hostas, umbrellawort and others we couldn't identify. First come first served. You must be able to dig them up, staff won't be available to help. Thank you!!

The Leadership Alexandria class of 2023 worked with Alexandria Area High School, 3M Abrasive Systems Division Plant, Dui...
06/27/2024

The Leadership Alexandria class of 2023 worked with Alexandria Area High School, 3M Abrasive Systems Division Plant, Duininck Concrete, SignMax, and local artists to bring these community sculptures to reality. We are honored to have one in front of our building made by artist Anna Lassonde! Come check it out and pick up a map so you can find all the others around town.

Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Runestone Museum Foundation

More beauties showing off at the museum this week! Stop by to see them and brush up on your Runestone history.
06/22/2024

More beauties showing off at the museum this week! Stop by to see them and brush up on your Runestone history.

Address

206 BROADWAY Street
Alexandria, MN
56308

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+1 320-763-3160

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Welcome to the Runestone Museum, located in downtown Alexandria, Minnesota. We invite you to stop by and tour historic Fort Alexandria, take your picture with the country’s biggest viking, and see the world famous Kensington Runestone. For awhile you will live in the past, so walk a little slower, talk a little slower, and enjoy the exhibition on Norse history, the Native American exhibit, the Minnesota wildlife display, the display of early pioneer life, and the hands-on children’s area. Enter Fort Alexandria and visit several authentic log buildings, an 1880 country school house, and view the forty-foot viking ship, the Snorri. Experience the changing of the seasons in the display of tools and farm equipment used by an earlier generation. The Runestone Gift Shop features Minnesota and Alexandria souvenirs, viking and runestone information, books, t-shirts, viking helmets and swords, and unique gifts, which many of them are by local artists, authors, and craftsmen. Admissions Adults: $8.00 Seniors: $7.00 Student (High school or College): $5.00 Family: $20.00 Group Rates: Contact Runestone Museum