Although the Land of 10,000 Lakes has been home to Native peoples – the Dakota and Ojibwe, in particular – for centuries, it was not until the early 1800s that pioneers of European heritage began settling in the region. While Minnesota does not really have a history that folks equate with their notions of the “Old West,” what we do have is a pioneer heritage (think Little House on the Prairie) that’s pretty darn fascinating. One of the best ways to experience this history is by a visit to a pioneer village in Minnesota, like the Nobles County Pioneer Village in Worthington.

The Nobles County Pioneer Village is located in Worthington, Minnesota, and it is operated by the Nobles County Historical Society.
Management/TripAdvisor
The village is open during the summer months, between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, and it offers a a view of what a typical rural Minnesota village would have looked like around the turn of the 20th century.
M NELSO/Google Reviews
The village offers a collection of examples of what would have been typical businesses and community institutions in the pioneer times.
Lester mac/Google Reviews
These include a church and a school.

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You can even step inside many of these businesses and homes to get a real feel for what patrons and residents of the time may have experienced…
Moyita/Google Reviews
…as well as the tools, utensils, and artifacts they may have used.
James Johnson/Google Reviews
You’ll even find examples of transportation of the time, ranging from horse-drawn carriages and buggies to train cars and even early automobiles.
Hank Lindgren/Google Reviews

All in all, we think a visit to the Nobles County Pioneer Village in Worthington is an awesome way to immerse yourself in this aspect of the early history of the North Star State. Learn more about the Nobles County Pioneer Village by visiting the Nobles County Historical Society on the web. Why not reserve a room in the area and make a weekend getaway out of your visit?

Have you visited this pioneer village in Minnesota? Let us know in the comments!

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Pioneer Village, J9PR+VR2, 1600 Stower Dr # 2, Worthington, MN 56187, USA