Experience Free Admission At Minnesota Historical Sites This June

The Oliver Kelley Farm in Elk River is one of 17 Minnesota historic sites and museums that will offer free admission on Saturday, June 28th.

The Minnesota Historical Society is hosting four days of free admission at its sites and museums. The other dates available are September 20th, January 10th (2026) and April 25th (2026).

A TRIP TO THE OLIVER KELLEY FARM

I had a chance to tour the Oliver Kelley Farm with my son's kindergarten class a couple of years ago. Here's what we saw:

On our trip to the Oliver Kelley Farm we got to see inside the Kelley house, which last housed residents in the 1930's. The kids learned about cracker making, the many uses for crackers in those times and even got to taste one!

Dave Overlund

We also learned about the farm's giant Ox, Blaze, and the kids had a chance to groom him while he reclined, happy in his 'retirement' from the hard labor required of him on the farm.

Dave Overlund

In addition to the brushing, the kids had a chance to scoop up some ox turds and learn how it could be used to create fertilizer for the crops.

Dave Overlund

After checking out Blaze we were led to a chicken coop where the kids were taught about all the many things that sheep and chicken provided not only for people in Kelley's time but even today.

OTHER HISTORIC SITES/MUSEUMS FREE ON SATURDAY

The Minnesota Historical Society will also offer free admission at these sites:

ST PAUL

- James J Hill House
- Fort Snelling
- Minnesota History Center

MINNEAPOLIS

- Mill City Museum

GREATER MINNESOTA

- Comstock House (Moorhead)
- Folsom House (Taylors Falls)
- Forest History Center (Grand Rapids)
- Historic Forestville (Preston)
- Lower Sioux Agency (Morton)
- Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post (Onamia)
- Sibley Historic Site (Mendota)
- Snake River Fur Post (Pine City)
- Split Rock Lighthouse (Two Harbors)
- W.W. Mayo House (Le Sueur)