Minnesota Historical Excursion DAY 1 Enjoy breakfast at your Bloomington hotel, and then begin your day in Saint Paul to experience some of the Minnesota Historical Society’s historic sites and museums in the city. Begin your historical adventure at the Minnesota State Capitol. Open in 1905, the Minnesota State Capitol building is hailed as one of America’s grandest and most beautiful public buildings. While in the building, see the Minnesota Senate, House & Supreme Court chambers, Civil War & Spanish‐American War flags and arts and memorial monuments throughout the Capitol Mall. Guided tours are available hourly and are FREE. See if there are any special events taking place during your visit at www.mnhs.org/statecapitol. In very close proximity to the State Capitol building visitors will find the Minnesota History Center. This interactive museum hosts both permanent and changing exhibits, plus special programs. Signature exhibits include Minnesota's Greatest Generation, Weather Permitting and Grainland. Along with these displays, visitors will find history learning stations and history performers and two gift shops full of Minnesota treasures to remember your visit to Saint Paul. See the museum at www.mnhs.org/historyceter. Grab a bite to eat at one of Saint Paul’s great diners, cafes or taverns. From lunch, head over to the James J. Hill House. A 36,000‐square‐foot Gilded Age mansion built by a railroad entrepreneur, the house features original stained glass, woodwork and chandeliers throughout the home. A guided tour of all four floors is available. See the home in all its grandeur at www.mnhs.org/hillhouse. Your last stop of the day is at the Alexander Ramsey House. The Ramsey house is of the nation's best‐preserved Victorian homes, featuring over 14,000 original furnishings. Guided tours are available and feature true stories of Minnesota's first territorial governor and his household. When you walk in the door you will smell home baked cookies from the wood burning stove. See the majesty of the house at www.mnhs.org/ramseyhouse. Enjoy a sit down meal at delicious dining establishment at Mall of America. DAY 2 Begin your day with breakfast at your hotel and then head to Minneapolis for a day of exploring the history of this fine city. Start the day with a visit to the Mill City Museum. A museum built into the ruins of what was once the world's largest flour mill. Here, visitors of all ages learn about the intertwined histories of the flour industry, the river, and the city of Minneapolis. Take a tour of the Flour Tower 8‐story elevator show, baking and water labs and see the Mill City Museum ‘s award‐winning short film. Allow at least two hours to explore the rooftop views of the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls, lock and dam, along with the surrounding area of dining and shopping. See it all at www.millcitymuseum.org. Visit the American Swedish Institute for a step back in time. Experience the only castle in the Twin Cities, the historic Turnblad mansion. Explore the exquisite 33‐room mansion from top to bottom, including detailed wood carvings, sculpted ceilings, and hand‐crafted Swedish tile stoves. Learn about the fascinating Turnblad family, the art and architecture of the mansion, and the history of early Minneapolis. See hours and costs at www.americanswedishinst.org. Grab a bite to eat on the road as you head towards the Sibley House in historic Mendota. The Sibley House is four original buildings from the 19th century fur trade. The houses are the residence of state's first governor, a fur trader's home and other historic buildings. Experienced guides unravel stories of the fur‐trade era, uncover memories of changes to the area and the structures, and lead visitors through the fully furnished interiors and exhibits. See the area at www.mnhs.org/sibleyhouse. DAY 3 Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, and then jump on a metroConnections City Tour, available from Mall of America. From cosmopolitan downtowns to sparkling lakes, the Twin Cities Highlights tour shows you the sights and sounds of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Travel past the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre and the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens; through the Kenwood residential area to see the television home of Mary Tyler Moore; past the Mall of America; stop at the legendary Minnehaha Falls and follow the Mississippi River past Fort Snelling into Saint Paul. From there you'll drive down stately Summit Avenue to see the magnificent Cathedral of Saint Paul, the State Capitol, the home and haunts of F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Governor's Mansion and the revitalized downtown area of Saint Paul including: Rice Park, Ordway Music Hall and the Landmark Center. With the group tour option, you can create custom tours specialized to your group’s interest. There's simply no better way to see all that the Twin Cities have to offer. No wonder this tour has won the prestigious Minnesota Office of Tourism Travel Award! http://www.metroconnections.com/transportationTours/GroupTours.php Mystic Lake Casino, one of the largest Midwest casinos is a perfect option for those who have had enough of sightseeing around the Twin Cities. Prepare to dine on a magnificent selection of food at The Buffet in Mystic Lake. Tempt your taste buds with your favorite dishes from around the world. Try your luck, or to win back some of the money spent on shopping, on one of 4000 slot machines or take it a little easier by sitting down with a Bingo card, anxiously anticipating your numbers being called. Check out the entertainment calendar at Mystic Lake to see what superstar is performing during your visit at www.mysticlake.com. DAY 4 Enjoy a narrated motor coach tour developed by the Wabasha Street Caves. The Gangster Tour is narrated by an actor or actress playing the part of a real‐life gangster living in the Twin Cities. Among the historical terrain covered is the Twin Cities' gangster past during the 1920s and 1930s. You'll find out about Ma Barker and her gang and learn about the Mill City Mob. Visitors can also tour the Wabasha Caves, carved from sandstone and a former hideout. Some caves were even converted into a nightclub. http://www.wabashastreetcaves.com/gangster.html Stay in Saint Paul for one more afternoon and take a tour around Historic Fort Snelling. Once the farthest outpost of the U.S. in the homeland of the Dakota Indians, visitors can take a tour around these 1820’s restored fort including barracks, store and hospital. Once Dred Scott's 1836‐1838 living quarters, you will see him as part of the daily programs on the Civil War, WWII and Dakota history from history performers and see frontier skills demonstrations from soldiers, blacksmiths and cooks. There are daily cannon firing, military drills and period crafts and games. See times and costs at www.fortsnelling.org. After you return back to your hotel, head to the Mall of America at your leisure. Enjoy tax free shopping at over 520 stores in the largest shopping and entertainment complex in the United States. Use a coupon from the Bloomington CVB to eat dinner at one of the 50 restaurants inside the Mall. To book this itinerary, visit our website at bloomingtonmn.org or contact Matt Meunier at the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau Sales Department at 1‐866‐435‐7425 or [email protected]. .