PRESTON, Minn (June 12, 2024) – This summer, visitors will have new ways to explore and enjoy Historic Forestville which is now open to the public during standard summer hours. The site offers new tours and a reimagined self-guided activity that puts visitors in the shoes of those who worked and lived in the now-abandoned town during its heyday in the 1850s and 1860s.
Interpreter Guided Tours will be offered twice daily. New Guided Hikes of the Forestville Ruins will take place each Thursday and Friday this summer. Furthermore, the site will hold a number of special events throughout the upcoming months. More information on summer events can be found at mnhs.org/forestville.
The site is accessible by a new, temporary pedestrian bridge that has been installed on County Road 118 bridge. It temporarily replaces the historic 1899 Carnegie Steel Bridge, which was successfully lifted on November 14, 2023. The goal is to repair and rehabilitate the bridge–while maintaining its historic character–in its temporary location before moving it back to its original location in the future. Detailed directions to the site can be found on Historic Forestville’s website.
As of June 8, Historic Forestville is open to the public from 11 am–4 pm on Thursdays and Fridays and 10 am–4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Summer hours run until September 2, at which time Historic Forestville will be open on Saturdays from 10 am–4 pm until October 19. The complete schedule is available online.
About the Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs, and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories, and connects people with history.