Forest History Center

08/29/2026

Horsepower 2026!

08/29/2026

08/25/2026

This coming Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29, is Real Horsepower at the Forest History Center!

We are hosting the North Star Draft and Driving Horse Association, as they bring several teams of horses to join our six horses. We’ll have more horses than you can count (unless you take off your socks to count with your toes)!

Watch as teams of draft horses perform feats of strength and dexterity while they demonstrate historic logging techniques like cross-hauling, skidding, and working with an A-frame jammer. We’ll have historic logging demonstrations and fun Logging Camp activities throughout the day.

This activity is included with your admission. Admission is free for MNHS members.

08/18/2026

This Saturday, August 22, is Blacksmith Day at the Forest History Center!

Aaron the Blacksmith will be in our Blacksmith’s Shop at 11:30am and 1:30pm, as he introduces folks to a real, working, coal-fired forge - just like the ones used in the old days. He’ll demonstrate how to get the forge hot, how to heat metal, and he’ll definitely need some helpers!

This activity is included with your admission. Admission is free for MNHS members.

08/13/2026

This Friday is our final Field Day with the Bell Museum!

From 10am to 4pm, explore from our deepest roots to the furthest galaxies - discovering natural history with the Forest History Center and the Bell Museum is always a blast (off)!

Find sun spots through a solar telescope, then tromp through the woods recording your plant and animal sightings. Bell Museum educators are excited to lead you through your very own space construction project. Don’t miss out on cosmic excitement at the final field day of the season!

This activity is included with admission, or free for MNHS Members.

08/11/2026

This Saturday, August 15, is Fire Tower Day at the Forest History Center!

Our 100’ tall fire tower goes high above the crown of all the trees here at the Forest History Center. If this fire tower was here before the year 1880, you wouldn’t have been able to see it, because the white pines would have soared high above it!

Join us on Saturday to climb our Fire Tower, and as you climb, imagine the days of old, when - even at the top of our tower - you would have still been deep in the canopy. When you get back down, visit Aurora at the front desk to discover how to join the Ancient and Honorable Order of Squirrels!

This activity is included with your admission. Admission is free for MNHS members.

08/04/2026

This Saturday, August 8, is Pontoon Day at the Forest History Center!

Join us for a pontoon ride on the Mississippi River! We have three times: Noon ($18) for a short, relaxing cruise, 1pm ($28) for a 90-minute narrated historical perspective on the Mississippi River, and 2:45pm ($18) for another short, relaxing cruise. For more information and to book your ticket, visit:
https://mnhs.info/3Tx3pLf

Site admission is included with your pontoon ticket, so you’ll also be able to spend time with our horses, climb the fire tower, visit the logging camp, and wander through our museum.

07/29/2026

This Saturday, August 1, is Nature Walk Day at the Forest History Center!

Join our naturalists for a guided nature walk, at 12:30pm or at 2:30pm. Enjoy the world of flowers, birds, animals, and of course, trees, during these 30-minute walks. You may discover something you’ve never seen before!

This activity is included with your admission. Admission is free for MNHS members.