Tours   

Join this one-mile historical walking tour of Minnehaha Park to discover the sites of long-lost dancehalls, boozy chaos, and criminal shenanigans. From the 1820s through to the early 20th century, Minnehaha invited a whole lot of bad behavior, and crowds from all over the world took advantage of the fun. After the tour, continue the conversation over a drink at the Sea Salt Eatery. Meet at the picnic table in front of the Longfellow House at: 4800 South Minnehaha Park Dr. Minneapolis, MN 55417. Tour begins promptly at 2:30.

Optional reading: When Minnehaha Flowed With Whiskey, A Spirited History Of The Falls by Karen E. Cooper, MNHS Press 2022.

Tour five stunning home gardens in the western Metro Area under the direction of Hennepin County master gardeners. Participants will visit one garden per week, where each host will describe their garden, offer tips, and answer questions. The first stop is Barry Schade’s Bryn Mawr garden, which includes a backyard pond and boulevard rain garden

This all-day bus tour of southwest Minnesota features stops at historic sites connected to the 1862 Dakota War. The first stop will be the 1861 Traverse de Sioux treaty site in St. Peter. We will then stop for lunch at the renowned Kaiserhoff Restaurant in New Ulm. Finally, we will travel along the Minnesota River to the Lower Sioux Agency near Morton, where in the hot dry summer of 1862 the starving Dakota were denied their promised food allotments and the war was ignited. Visit the museum of Dakota Life, walk trails through prairie grass & summer flowers, and participate in a discussion of the past and contemporary life of the Dakota community. Park free all day at Bethlehem Lutheran church, 4100 Lyndale Ave S Mpls. Bus leaves Bethlehem at 9 am sharp and will return around 5:30pm. No refund if dropped <7 days before trip. 

Learn about the Federal Reserve and the history of central banking in the United States. Bank staff will discuss the board of governors, the regional reserve banks, and the economy of the 9th Federal Reserve District overseen by the Minneapolis Fed. Topics include monetary policy, bank supervision, and payments processing. The tour includes a visit to the bank's cash processing area, where $90 million in daily deposits and transfer orders are processed for area financial institutions. Be prepared to stroll for 90 minutes. Check in by 9:50 a.m. or you’ll miss the tour. Park at your own expense. All participants must be registered in advance to attend. Waitlisted members will not be allowed entrance. Sign up for one tour. 

Tour 1: June 3

Tour 2: June 10

Tour 3: June 17

Join OLLI Members in exploring this hidden gem of early Minnesota history opposite Fort Snelling: the beautiful 1830s limestone house of later to be Governor Henry Sibley, the fur trading post buildings of Jean-Baptiste Faribault and summer gardens. Meet at the 1850s Dupuis House Welcome Center, 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota Minnesota, MN 55105. Free street parking. After the visit, gather for lunch at Lucky's 13 Pub in Mendota! 
Admission Fee: $6.00, pay onsite, (Free for Minnesota Historical Society and Dakota County Historical Society members).

Note time: 11:30 am-1:30 pm

As a child, Jane Gibbs lived in a Dakota village near Bde Maka Ska. In 1849, she settled at Gibbs Farm, in what is now Falcon Heights. Join us for a tour of this historic site, where we will hear Jane's story and visit the historic buildings. Free parking is available at the site.

Calling all book lovers! Are you craving something new but feel like you’re seeing the same titles everywhere you look? We’ve got just the adventure for you: join us for a tour of the Twin Cities’ most unique bookstores: Black Garnet, Minnesota’s first black-owned bookstore; Birchbark Books, an Indigenous book haven; Tropes & Trifles, the area’s first romance bookstore; and Milkweed Books, home of the local Milkweed press. We’ll talk with owners & curators about their collections, the heart & purpose of their store, and maybe just find you your next favorite book!

Join a convivial group exploring three distinctive craft breweries, comparing styles, flavors and processes, and tasting samples, while learning about local brewing history. We start at the state’s first brewery, founded by Bavarians in 1848. Next is a small operation with a big footprint in innovation – housed in a brilliantly crafted grain bin. Our final stop is a lively brewery that celebrates the vibrancy of Latino culture. A happy option: enjoying a meal together afterward in each pub. 

June 5: Yoerg Brewing Co., 378 Maria Ave., St. Paul

June 12: Bang Brewing, 2320 Capp Road, St. Paul 

June 19: La Doña Cervecería Brewery, 241 Fremont Ave N, Minneapolis