Curious kids will become nature explorers at our July Open House this Sunday with an hour-long guided nature hike and scavenger hunt. During the hike, they will discover Arcola’s woods with all its birds, bugs, flowers and more while writing, drawing and collecting samples to share with the group. 

The hike will begin at 2:00 p.m. in conjunction with the geneaology presentation at the Arcola mansion. It will be guided by Tony Minnichsoffer, certified Minnesota Master Naturalist and Saint Croix Master Watershed Steward, who has led nature and history programs as a naturalist at Interstate and Wild River State Parks.

We can’t wait for you and your kids to join us this Sunday for an afternoon of fun and discovery at our July Open House!

Join us on Sunday, July 14 from 1-4 p.m. for our monthly Open House with free access to the Arcola grounds! Beginning at 2 p.m., Dale W. Mower will give a presentation on the history of the Mower family, the original owners of Arcola Mills who built the Arcola mansion, and their journey to Minnesota. Following the presentation will be a question and answer time to learn more about the Mowers and about genealogy.

Mower has been researching his genealogy for close to 20 years, recently focusing on the descendants of his 3rd-great-grandparents, Martin and Mary (Underhill) Mower, several of whose children moved to the Stillwater area in the mid-1800s. He is a member of the New England Historical Genealogical Society, National Genealogical Society, and other local societies. We look forward to learning from him at our July Open House, and we hope to see you there as well!

We are hosting open houses on the second Sunday of each month from June to October with free admission to Arcola grounds! The open house dates and times for the 2019 season are as follows: 

• Sunday, June 9, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, July 14, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, August 11, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 8, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 13, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For our first open house this coming Sunday, author Amy Lynn Cole will be joining us in celebration of the publication of her book, Jake-y, a biography of her grandmother’s life from the Great Depression to World War II and beyond. The family who attends with the most generations present will win a Day at Arcola – access to the property for your family for an entire day of your choosing!

Learn what it means to be a responsible and effective steward of the St Croix River. Informational classes, paired with guided family friendly paddles offered at 10am, 11am, and noon. Backwaters paddle from 1 – 3pm for those with advanced paddling skills. Arcola Mills Mansion tours, hiking trails, and food truck. If you need a kayak, please use link to reserve one that day. $10pp recommended donation for launch use/house tours. Register for kayak rentals here. 

Free admission to Arcola grounds the second Sunday of each month beginning in June – October 2019. Open house hours 1:00pm – 4:00pm.