4 Best Sights in Stillwater, Minnesota

Step into pre-Civil War times at Arcola Mills, on the National Register of Historic Places, which lies along the St. Croix River 6 miles north of Stillwater. Inside the restored Greek Revival mansion—once home to the Van Meier and Mower families—you'll get a glimpse of the life of a wealthy family in a milling town during the 1840s. The Mower brothers developed much of Stillwater, and their mills once cut lumber that traveled as far as St. Louis. The grounds surrounding the mansion are perfect for a stroll, with streams, bridges, and forested canopies. The mills' trademark chimney still stands.

The historic one-room schoolhouse, in use from the late 1800s through 1963, underwent a massive renovation—led by former students—after its closure, earning it a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Operated by the Washington County Historical Society, tours showcase a typical schoolday for children in the Stillwater area, many of whom were Swedish immigrants. Also on the site is the Erickson Log Home, constructed in 1868 by immigrant Johannes Erickson and his 13-year-old son. After the historical society purchased the home in 1974 it was moved to its current location.

From 1814 to 1914 this building was home to a Minnesota Territorial Prison warden, and it accurately reflects how he and his contemporaries would have lived during the last part of the 19th century. It retains its late-19th- and early-20th-century interior design and contains toys and games that would have been familiar to children in those days. The property was sold to the Washington County Historical Society in 1941 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the 1970s. Other objects in the museum include relics from Stillwater's lumber-boom era.

Located 12 miles north of Stillwater, along the banks of the scenic St. Croix River, this 2,200-acre state park is paradise for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers alike—hiking, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming are all available and the river's channels are stocked with walleye, bass, and trout. Canoes can be rented from mid-April to late October. In addition to a 112-site campground, three cabins offer electricity and overnight camping from April to October. There is also a year-round cabin.