Minnesota - Mississippi Bluff Country Region Attractions

The former home of James B Wakefield who was Blue Earth's co-founder and a former Minnesota lieutenant governor, features furnishings and other items that belonged to early settlers.

Oxbow Park features camping, hiking, fishing, a playground, and a nature center and the Zollman Zoo with more than 30 native animals.

The Le Sueur County Museum is housed in an 1895 brick schoolhouse in Elysian. The art collection features works by Adolf Dehn, Lloyd Herfindahl, David Maass, Roger Preuss, and Albert Christ-Janer.

The Martin County Historical Museum in Fairmont is housed in a 1917 brick school building. It features displays on the history of the area including a 19th-century classroom, four rooms furnished as a pioneer home and a collection of local newspapers dating from 1874.

Niagara Cave near Harmony has a waterfall, nearly 60ft/18m high, stalactites, calcite flowstone, fossils that have been dated to over 400 million years old, and a wedding chapel.

Restoration House in Mantorville was built in 1856 and was used as the county office building with offices for sheriff, treasurer, and registrar of deeds. Exhibits include Civil War era furnishings and unusual, rare historic items.

Frontenac State Park is a gathering spot for more than 260 species of birds. The park has scenic overlooks, old limestone quarries and American Indian burial grounds.

The Methodist Church Museum is housed in a Victorian Gothic church, built in 1876 in Spring Valley. It features Italian stained-glass windows made c 1715. Exhibits include displays about the Wilder family and Richard Sears as well as an old-time country store, an 1874 fire wagon and religious relics.

In 1851 a treaty was signed between the Dakota Indians and the U.S. government in which 24 million acres in Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota were ceded by the Indians in exchange for reservation lands to be paid in annual annuities of goods and money. The center presents exhibits with displays relating to the treaty and regional history.

The Arrowhead Bluffs Museum has a complete collection of Winchester firearms, including every model of Winchester sold from 1866-1982. Other exhibits include mounted displays of North American wildlife and a collection of Native American artifacts.

The Mystery Cave State Park is 3,000 acres of hardwood forests with oak, basswood, ironwood and sugar maple. Forestville Village is a late 19th C farming settlement with costumed guides. Hiking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and camping opportunities are available.

Mystery Cave in Mystery Cave State Park features stalactites, stalagmites and underground pools. Guided tours are available during summer weekends.