WINONA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
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Programs, Classes, Events, and more fun stuff to do.

Events & Fundraisers


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​MEMBERS ONLY EVENT
ANNUAL MEETING
Tuesday, March 21 • 6:30 PM • History Center
Registration is not required, but encouraged due to limited seating: call 507-454-2723 ext. 0 or click here to register online. 
Current members are invited to attend the 88th Annual Meeting of the Winona County Historical Society. Be welcomed with a dessert reception featuring caramel whiskey and Guinness chocolate cupcakes. Elect new board members and hear updates at the business meeting, followed by live music by Patina and “The Irish in Winona” with Kathleen Peterson. 

Register
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​NEW ANNUAL FUNDRAISER EVENT
SWING INTO SPRING: WINONA’S GLORIOUS GLASS 
Saturday, April 22 • 9 AM to 1 PM • Various Locations 
Cost: $15 Members, $18 Public
Swing into banks, churches, businesses, museums and more to learn about the amazing stained glass heritage of Winona. Held April 22, this is a self-guided tour that can be enjoyed in any order.  Tickets will go on sale for this self-guided tour at the History Center starting April 1 and will be available the day of the tour too. Stops include St. Mary’s Parish, Watkins Administration Building, First Congregational Church, Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka (opening at 10 a.m.), Merchants Bank, WNB Financial, Wesley United Methodist, Winona Art’s Center, and more. Associated Crafts & Willet Hauser will be giving studio tours too! 

Proudly Sponsored by:
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Our Annual Events​
  • WCHS Annual Meeting, March 21
  • NEW! Swing into Spring Tour Series, April 22
  • Voices From the Past: Cemetery Walk, ​​Oct. 7 & 8
  • Heritage Dinner,  coming 2024
  • Handmade Neighborhood, November
  • Holiday Family Fest, December 2023
  • Holiday House Tour, coming 2024

Programs, Activities & Classes


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MUSEUM MAKERS CLASS
PISANKI - SOLD OUT
Sunday, April 2 • 12 to 3 PM • Briarcombe Room
Cost: $8 members / $10 public
Led by: Lori Ortega
Register: at History Center or call 507-454-2723 ext. 0 (Space is limited)

All the supplies are included to create your own unique decorated egg. Using wax and natural dyes, this traditional way of decorating eggs for spring and Easter is from Poland, Ukraine and other nearby European cultures. Best for ages 10 and up. 

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​PARTNER IN HISTORY PROGRAM
THE HISTORY OF THE WILLET - HAUSER STAINED GLASS STUDIO 
Thursday, April 20 • 12 PM • Wanek Hall
Cost: Free
Speaker: Garrick Holey, VP of Production
The Hauser Art Glass Company was formed in Winona by James E. Hauser in response to the need to repair neglected stained glass in the wake of WWII rationing. Learn more about the birth of Winona’s stained glass industry and the other even older companies, like Willet, that joined in from across the nation. 

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BOOK CHAT
Book Chat is free and open to the public. Participate in great discussions about the themes in each month’s book. Held monthly at the History Center. Discussions begin at 12:05 p.m. for about an hour. Led by Audrey Gorny.

April 26 • Chat with local author Jen Telger about "What Heals the Heart" and her new book, title coming soon! Plus, we will select books for the upcoming months' reading list. 

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HISTORY ON THE RIVER
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Educational Cruises Celebrating Our Heritage.
2023 Tickets will go on sale April 24!

Experience the history, culture, arts, science, stories, music, and more that make Winona County, Minnesota so unique...on the Mississippi River. 

The favorite educational series, History on the River, is returning this season with added cruises! Choose from two different cruise times on the third Thursdays in May, June, July, August and September. Each presentation will be offered during a 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. cruise and again for a 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. cruise. Also enjoy refreshments and the beautiful scenery of the Mississippi River. 

Tickets:
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Tickets and season pass packs will go on sale April 24 at the History Center or by calling 507.454.2723 ext. 0.
  • $35 each for WCHS members
  • $45 each for the public
Get a season pass pack for all five presentations (you choose your cruise times):
  • $150 for members 
  • $200 for the public
General Cruise Information:
  •  Cruises are aboard The Cal Fremling. This two level vessel has an accessible enclosed main deck with a restroom. The Cal Fleming is docked at the foot of Johnson Street at the Winona Levee. 
  • Parking is available on Cal Fremling Drive (enter at Walnut Street) and off Johnson Street. 
  • Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to cruise time. Cruises leave on time!
  • Tickets are non-refundable unless a cruise is canceled by the captain or WCHS. We will go in rain. Flooding also rarely affects cruises. If Cal Fremling Drive is closed The Cal Fremling dock is accessible from Johnson Street. 
  • Cruise Updates or Cancelations: NONE
​2023 Season Schedule:
May 18
The River We Have Wrought with John Anfinson
4:00 - 5:30 & 6:00 - 7:30 PM
June 15
The Driftless Region with Dylan Blumentritt & Music by The Bell House Band
4:00 - 5:30 & 6:00 - 7:30 PM
July 20
The Golden Age of Steamboats with Bob Taunt
4:00 - 5:30 & 6:00 - 7:30 PM
August 17
River Jazz with H3O
4:00 - 5:30 & 6:00 - 7:30 PM
September 21
People, Plants & Food Sovereignty with Nicky Buck
4:00 - 5:30 & 6:00 - 7:30 PM

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Click to find Opening Receptions & Show Schedules!

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Online Lecture Series: The Ecological History of Winona County
A Webinar Series in partnership with Winona State University
​Diane Wilson | Seeds for Seven Generations
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Michael Lee | Minnesota’s Driftless Area: a Biodiversity Hotspot
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​Andy Robertson, Kevin Stark, Roger Meyer, and Kathy Allen | Mapping Ecologic History in the Driftless Area of Minnesota
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Gregory Edge | Oak Savanna and Woodland: Using the science of disturbance ecology and silviculture to help restore unique Driftless Area ecosystems
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Eli Sagor | A View from the Minnesota Woods
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Michael Dockry | Learning from the Indigenous Roots of Sustainable Forestry in the USA: Promoting Sustainability, Community Healing, and Partnerships
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This lecture is co-sponsored by the All-University Arboretum and Land Stewardship Committee as part of the 8th Annual Arbor Day celebration and WSU’s “Tree-Campus USA” recognition.
The Ecological History Lecture Series, March 23 – April 21, 2021, is made possible in part by the people of Minnesota through a grant funded by an appropriation to the Minnesota Historical Society from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. We thank the generosity of the people of Minnesota. The webinar series is open and free to the public.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Board & Staff
    • Volunteers
    • Employment
    • Facility Rentals
  • Museums
  • To Do
    • Activities
    • Tours
    • Exhibits >
      • Fabric of Winona
      • Virtual Visit
    • Art Gallery
  • Archives
  • Support
    • Join
    • Donate
  • News
  • Shop