Charming Marine on St. Croix is a historic Minnesota town on the St. Croix River. With its lush river setting away from other towns and cities, structures dating back to the mid-19th century, and passenger cars from a bygone railway haunting its tracks, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this lovely town of fewer than 700 people had been frozen in time.

Marine on St. Croix was originally established in 1839 as Marine Mills - the first commercial saw mill on the St. Croix River.
McGhiever/Wikimedia Commons
Its downtown area, on the National Register of Historic Places, is dominated by an 1870 general store and the town’s 1888 Village Hall.
A plaque commemorating the mill stands on the original site. You can still hike a trail to its historic foundations along the river.
McGhiever/Wikimedia Commons
They lay within the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, a National Park Service unit that encompasses the St. Croix and its banks in this stretch of the river.
The Stone House Museum, an example of Swedish immigrant stone work, was built in 1872 to serve as the town hall and jail.
McGhiever/Wikimedia Commons
An early settler’s cabin from 1852 still stands in the town, as well.
​​The Marine General Store has been serving customers for more than 150 years.
Marine General Store/Facebook
It’s the oldest general store in Minnesota and also a beloved bakery.

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​​There are a surprising number of dining options in this small town.
Steve Moses/Google
Brookside Bar and Grill, renowned for its burgers, is likely the most popular.
​​An award-winning chocolatier makes its home in Marine, as well.
St. Croix Chocolate Company/Facebook
St. Croix Chocolate Co. pulls off some truly amazing confectionery feats with its products.
​​There’s plenty of natural beauty in the area, too.
Kris Kampshoff/Google
You can hike, bike, camp, picnic, and paddle in William O’Brien State Park.
Marine on St. Croix is directly adjacent to the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, which also offers plenty of recreational opportunities, such as camping, fishing, and paddling.
St. Croix National Scenic Riverway NPS/Facebook
A​​ road trip is a great way to explore this national park unit.
​​The Minnesota Transportation Museum operates a train of old Great Northern Railroad cars that runs from Osceola, Wisconsin to Marine on St. Croix.
c3pon/TripAdvisor
To see Marine on St. Croix from a different perspective, board the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola for a scenic day trip. Fall is a lovely time for a train ride through the river valley.

While this town is clearly rooted here in the present, it’s historic aesthetic and old-fashioned charm make Marine on St. Croix feel like it’s frozen in time. We encourage you to head over to Marine and experience it for yourself!

Have you visited Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota? What was your experience? What are some other historic Minnesota towns that feel like they may have been frozen in time? Let us know in the comments below or on our nomination page – we love to hear from you!

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Marine on Saint Croix, Marine on St Croix, MN 55047, USA