Check out all the fun activities, engaging programs, classes and exhibits offered by WCHS!
Also visit our museums to explore local history through exhibits, tours and more!
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Programs and Classes |
Food For Thought Series |
Celebrating its 20th Year!Learn on your lunch hour! The Food For Thought learning series takes place at the Winona County History Center. Programs, Films, and Book Chats begin at 12:05 p.m. and last approximately one hour (unless otherwise noted). The 4th Wednesday of each month, a book is discussed by the FFT Book Chat group, but all are welcome to partake. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunch. A beverage is served. All are free and open to the public.
Book Chat War Brides, by Lois Battles and Helen Bryan, October 24, 12:05 p.m.
When four of the women return to Crowmarsh Priors for a VE Day celebration fifty years later, television cameras focus on the heartwarming story of these old women as war brides of a bygone age, but miss the more newsworthy angle. The women’s mission is not to commemorate or remember—they’ve returned to settle a score and avenge one of their own. (Amazon book description) Program, Eugenie Anderson: First Female U.S. Ambassador, with Christopher Stout, November 7, 12:05 p.m. Minnesota has had its share of famous and historically significant people in history. However, few can compare with the amazing accomplishments Eugenie Anderson. As the first female ambassador from the United States, ambassador to Bulgaria, and first woman to work for the United States on a UN council, Eugenie helped expand the role of women in state and national government. She pushed the boundaries of women’s rights and role in society and in government, Come hear the story of an outspoken, independent, and accomplished woman who lived most of her life just about an hour north of Winona in Red Wing, Minnesota. Book Chat Life and Death in Shanghai, by Nien Cheng, November 28, 12:05 p.m. A woman who spent more than six years in solitary confinement during Communist China’s Cultural Revolution discusses her time in prison. (Amazon book description) Please note there is not a December Book Chat due to the Holidays. Read ahead: The Snow Child by Eawyn Ivey for January 23 and Public Enemies by Bryan Burrough for February 27. |
Programs and
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Japanese Cultural Fair
Saturday, October 27; 9 a.m. - Noon; Winona County History Center, Tickets $4 adults, $2 Students, free for children 5 and under. Tickets are limited! Get yours in advance at the History Center. Be immersed in fun activities presented by ambassadors from our sister city, Misato, Japan. Learn more about Japanese traditions, games, art and more about the Misato and Winona ambassador program. Activities will include Green Tea Ceremony, trying on Kimono, Calligraphy, Japanese games, Origami and snacks with chop sticks! This open house style event is also a fundraiser for the Winona International Friendship Association and WCHS. Trick or Treat the History Center Wednesday, October 31, Halloween, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Stop in the History Center on Halloween and visit the staff for treats! (free) Plus, get 1/2 off museum admission to also explore the exhibits. There are a few tricky ghosts to spot within the exhibits and win a fun prize if you find them all! Great for ages 3 to 10. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Have a Happy Halloween! |
Classes |
Historic Craft Class: German Christmas Star Ornaments
with Polly Renk, Saturday, December 8 at 1 p.m. at the History Center Create a traditional German Christmas Star out of paper. This class is free, but has limited seats so please call the History Center to sign up! It fills! 507.454.2723 ext. 0 |
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History on the River |
History on the River, our educational cruises, will be back for another season in 2018! Join us out on the river on either the Cal Fremling or Winona Tour Boat, both leaving from the Winona Levee. Cruises are on Thursday evenings, and are 90 minutes long with a program and sightseeing time. A rotating variety of refreshments are included with each cruise as well.
Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to the listed departure time on the schedule below. Please note the changing departure times as we near the end of the season when the sun sets earlier. Parking is available near the Levee off Johnson St. and Walnut St. as well as on Cal Fremling Drive. The Cal Fremling (CF) is docked near Johnson St., and the Winona Tour Boat (WTB) is near Walnut Street.
Tickets are sold in advance at the History Center or by calling 507.454.2723 ext. 0. Tickets are $27 for non-members and $22 for WCHS members. Save with our pick 3 option, and go on your choice of any 3 History on the River cruises for $75 for non-members or $60 for our members.
Weather related cancellations will be determined 4 hours prior to departure time and are decided by the captain. We will go in rain. Plan that the cruise will go unless you get a call from us. If a cruise is cancelled due to weather or river conditions, ticket holders can choose another cruise or can be issued a refund, otherwise cruise tickets are non-refundable. Any cancelled cruise topics are not rescheduled.
Check back in March for the 2019 season's Schedule!
Boarding begins 15 minutes prior to the listed departure time on the schedule below. Please note the changing departure times as we near the end of the season when the sun sets earlier. Parking is available near the Levee off Johnson St. and Walnut St. as well as on Cal Fremling Drive. The Cal Fremling (CF) is docked near Johnson St., and the Winona Tour Boat (WTB) is near Walnut Street.
Tickets are sold in advance at the History Center or by calling 507.454.2723 ext. 0. Tickets are $27 for non-members and $22 for WCHS members. Save with our pick 3 option, and go on your choice of any 3 History on the River cruises for $75 for non-members or $60 for our members.
Weather related cancellations will be determined 4 hours prior to departure time and are decided by the captain. We will go in rain. Plan that the cruise will go unless you get a call from us. If a cruise is cancelled due to weather or river conditions, ticket holders can choose another cruise or can be issued a refund, otherwise cruise tickets are non-refundable. Any cancelled cruise topics are not rescheduled.
Check back in March for the 2019 season's Schedule!
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Fundraisers and Special Events |
The Christmas House Tour
Sunday, December 2, 3 - 8 p.m., tickets $12 members/$15 public
Tickets available only at the History Center in advance, starting mid-November, or the day of.
It is a Christmas House Tour year! The Winona County Historical Society has offered the Christmas House Tour for over 30 years as an annual winter fundraiser. Today, it is offered on even numbered years and we are excited to share an amazing collection of historic, and modern, homes for 2018. The tour offers a rare look into the privately owned historic, and sometimes more modern, residences in Winona. Plus, the added joy of the holiday spirit is always enjoyable! This self-guided tour can be done in any order and tickets include a guide booklet, map and a bag for your shoes.
We thank the homeowners who opened their homes and make this event possible. Each of them are appreciated for preserving these historic, and future historic, structures and sharing them with us all.
Chris and Stacey Arnold - 661 Market Street
John and Lois Durfey - 177 W. Wabasha Street
Andrew and Teresa Higl - 708 W. Broadway
Harro and Marianne Hohenner - 55 Lois Lane
Bruce and Margaret Johnson - 719 Main Street
Roger & Carol Stewart and Anne Larson - 72 College Rd.
In addition to the six homes, a church is featured as well. For 2018 The First Baptist Church is on the tour, featuring an amazing collection of over 500 Nativity Scenes, live Christmas piano music and refreshments. Plus, the History Center is also open for the tour and be sure to check out the Museum Shop for great gifts! (A coupon is included in your tour ticket booklet!)
Sunday, December 2, 3 - 8 p.m., tickets $12 members/$15 public
Tickets available only at the History Center in advance, starting mid-November, or the day of.
It is a Christmas House Tour year! The Winona County Historical Society has offered the Christmas House Tour for over 30 years as an annual winter fundraiser. Today, it is offered on even numbered years and we are excited to share an amazing collection of historic, and modern, homes for 2018. The tour offers a rare look into the privately owned historic, and sometimes more modern, residences in Winona. Plus, the added joy of the holiday spirit is always enjoyable! This self-guided tour can be done in any order and tickets include a guide booklet, map and a bag for your shoes.
We thank the homeowners who opened their homes and make this event possible. Each of them are appreciated for preserving these historic, and future historic, structures and sharing them with us all.
Chris and Stacey Arnold - 661 Market Street
John and Lois Durfey - 177 W. Wabasha Street
Andrew and Teresa Higl - 708 W. Broadway
Harro and Marianne Hohenner - 55 Lois Lane
Bruce and Margaret Johnson - 719 Main Street
Roger & Carol Stewart and Anne Larson - 72 College Rd.
In addition to the six homes, a church is featured as well. For 2018 The First Baptist Church is on the tour, featuring an amazing collection of over 500 Nativity Scenes, live Christmas piano music and refreshments. Plus, the History Center is also open for the tour and be sure to check out the Museum Shop for great gifts! (A coupon is included in your tour ticket booklet!)
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Exhibits and Openings |
Brewing up the Past: History of Winona’s Beer Industry, Now - January 20, 2019
Cheers! This historic skill is taking on a whole new life again, and we are excited to share the story of beer brewing history in Winona County. This new exhibit at the Winona County History Center will explore the various breweries, brewers and the business of beer throughout our local past.
Voices of the Winona Armory Opening
Monday, November 12, 4 -6 p.m.,Winona County History Center
This new permanent exhibit highlights the old Armory’s history, its special way of connecting military and civilians and how it still connects various members of the community as a museum today. We were awarded a Veterans Voices Grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center to do this project and are honored to partner with them and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Project to also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the WWI Armistice and thank our area military veterans and their families. Refreshments will be served and the film screening with some special remarks will be at 5:15 p.m. This work is funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
2019 Exhibits Coming Soon!
Cheers! This historic skill is taking on a whole new life again, and we are excited to share the story of beer brewing history in Winona County. This new exhibit at the Winona County History Center will explore the various breweries, brewers and the business of beer throughout our local past.
Voices of the Winona Armory Opening
Monday, November 12, 4 -6 p.m.,Winona County History Center
This new permanent exhibit highlights the old Armory’s history, its special way of connecting military and civilians and how it still connects various members of the community as a museum today. We were awarded a Veterans Voices Grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center to do this project and are honored to partner with them and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Project to also commemorate the 100th anniversary of the WWI Armistice and thank our area military veterans and their families. Refreshments will be served and the film screening with some special remarks will be at 5:15 p.m. This work is funded in part with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
2019 Exhibits Coming Soon!