Village of Yesteryear — Attraction in Owatonna

Excellent value. It was about 2.5 hours for only $5 admission. Tours were once a day at 1:30pm meetup at the historical site building on the other side of the water tower. There are about a dozen building full of vintage items. There was a printing press, blacksmith shop, train station, fire station, senator’s house, 2 log cabins, gas station, church, schoolhouse, farm equipment barn a building of professional job machines, a barn full of early transportation, and a general store. Our tour guide Jerry was excellent and took interest in their exhibits and town history. It was neat to see him demonstrate the printing press’ operation and watch it mechanically move. Most of the buildings did not have air conditioning and we were a bit hot since we visited in July. I had a 17 year old son with us and he enjoyed most of the tour too. Would recommend this tour, but NOT a hands-on tour so not the best for...

I grew up nearby, so I kinda took it for granted...

But now I have seen the world and it's offerings and returned with more perspective. Owatonna is a fine community. New people are discovering this constantly. We need to keep relics and remnants of our history. Don't let some company or group come in and pave over the past! Remember the Princess. The healing waters. They say it is a fable. I don't! We could live in some terribly named boring town in Anywheresville, USA. But we don't. This is Owatonna, The Princess City! The Village of Yesteryear embodies all of this for me. Too bad we could not have preserved our beautiful former high school on its grounds. But there is a wealth of history here. The names are carved into the boardwalk. It is our Hollywood star boulevard of regular families and couples and men that form the fabric of this place we call...

All authentic buildings and furnishings of a frontier and early pre-industrial American small town, including each building's furnishings and decor!! Hard to replicate, much less equal! Definitely worth a few visits!! Old Print Shop, Firehouse (with engines), School, Church (with bell), Barber Shop, Physician's & Dentist's Offices (with period appropriate equipment), General Store, Post Office, Railroad Depot, Blacksmith Shop, Root Beer Soda & Ice Cream Stand, Abe Lincoln era log cabin, Mansion complete with Carriage...