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Location
Visitor tip
The museum features a secure, enclosed play area for young children with only one entrance—ideal for families with active kids who need space to burn energy while parents monitor easily.
Visitor tip
Take the trolley tour for the most immersive historical experience. It includes narration about mining operations and a bonus homestead exhibit showing daily life of miners and their families, making it more engaging than self-guided exploration alone.
Best time
With 660 acres of grounds, prioritize visiting during seasonal events like the Trolley Ride Pumpkin Festival which bundles multiple attractions (trolley, historic site exploration, petting farm) into one memorable experience.
Quick Facts
- Type
- Natural History Museum
- Location
- Chisholm, MN
- Highlights
- 33,000 sq ft museum, trolley tours, mini golf, outdoor water activities, live music
- Campus Size
- 660 acres — largest museum complex in Minnesota outside Twin Cities
What visitors say
We did the Trolley Ride Pumpkin Festival with our grandbabies and it was great. A perfect amount of time for the Trolley ride, and then 1/2 hr to explore the historic site and pick some pumpkins. We had a great lunch at the Food Court…
Really well done displaying history of the area. Has clean bathrooms. A great play area for children tucked away in a corner that has only one entrance to ensure kids are secure. Many of the exhibits are on the first floor with a…
There's much to see and do with the museum, trolley, mini golf, the homestead and the rest of the grounds. The trolley ride was fun and informative with an additional little tour exhibiting the life of a miner and his family. It was…
From 260 Google reviews
Did You Know?
- The museum sits on a 660-acre campus with a 33,000 square foot museum building, featuring exhibits on 90-million-year-old fossils alongside Iron Range mining and immigration history
- Interactive trolley tours are a signature attraction, mentioned in 27 reviews and featured in special events like the Trolley Ride Pumpkin Festival, combining historical narration with family activities
- The attraction utilizes a former mine pit lake for water-based recreation, offering kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards on what was once an active mining site
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