Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel before departing for a leisurely walk as you explore the unique architecture and history of Downtown Owatonna on the Historic Walking Tour. Your guide will take you through the district which has a total of 75 buildings and 1 park, which date from 1876 to the late 1950s. This tour highlights 5 murals, each depicting the history of Owatonna and a local landmark; the Owatonna Power Plant. Built-in 1855, it showcases 3 original smokestacks behind the iconic red neon lettering. The tour will finish with an inside look into Louis Sullivan’s biggest and most elaborate Jewel Box of the Prairie Bank. You will experience awe-inspiring and spirit-lifting architecture. This is the first of Sullivan’s eight jewel box banks. Historian Tom Martinson calls it “one of the greatest buildings in American history.”
Get ready for an old-fashioned small-town café experience at The Kitchen. Once the sight for the towns livery stable and a Ford garage, The Kitchen provides home-cooked meals and a fantastic room for groups.
Next stop will take you back in time to experience what life was like at the turn of the 20th century. The 20-structure Village of Yesteryear is constructed like the original layout of Owatonna. The village features Congressman Mark H. Dunnell’s 1868 mansion and the Milwaukee Railroad Bixby Depot built-in 1899.
Take some time to walk around the rotating exhibit hall of the Steele County History Center, now featuring a World War II interactive exhibit, and the gift shop.
Finally, your last stop will take you to the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum, once the 3rd largest institution of its kind in the nation. Over 10,000 neglected children were sent to Owatonna from 1885 to 1945, where they could be transformed into productive members of society. The State School was to be a temporary home, preparing the children for adoption or placement in “good homes.” Discover the 10,000 different stories in these historic halls.
Evening Activities
Refresh back at the hotel before dinner at one of Owatonna’s international restaurants. Local favorites include Mizuki Fusion, Grace’s Tex Mex, and Taqueria Jalisco. Now it’s time for a fun evening activity in Owatonna. You will pick between exploring a local event (seasonal), catching a show at the Little Theater of Owatonna or a specially made Owatonna Walking Tour with a local historian as your guide.
