Dakota City Heritage Village

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Dakota City Heritage Village is a 1900-era village and museum dedicated to connecting people to the rural past. We're located in Farmington, Minnesota, just 30 minutes south of the Twin Cities, on the Dakota County Fairgrounds.

Our five-acre site includes 22 buildings where visitors experience living history firsthand with costumed interpreters and demonstrations. Events throughout the year focus on rural life 100 years ago including how residents met their needs for food, clothing, shelter, and social connection.

Ahlberg Heritage Center, our museum, houses more than 10,000 artifacts depicting social and rural history, with an emphasis on agriculture.

Public Tours Available

"A walking tour through many of the buildings with a costumed guide is
available to the public. Tours are usually 2 hours long, cost $5 per person
and must be scheduled in advance by calling our office at 651-460-8050

Tours can be arranged for:

    Senior Citizen groups
    Scout groups
    Individual families
    Red Hat Ladies groups (trolley tour or tour with tea luncheon)

Bring your own picnic lunch and eat on our grounds before or after your
tour!"

May Lady Jane's Victorian Tea

Step back 100 years and relax at an opulent luncheon as costumed table hostesses preside over tea. Delight in refined Victorian entertainment as your hostess, Lady Jane, leads the day's music and vignettes. Crystal Lake Golf Club located at 16725 Innsbrook drive in Lakeville, Minnesota.

May WWII Living History Weekend

The European Theater of WWII will be highlighted during this living history weekend. A tank division of the Historical Reenactment Society will be present. This event features period equipment, costumed participants, and activities. Village buildings may be staffed by costumed hosts.

June Family and Friends Fun Day
July
August

A day for families, friends, or individuals to come out and visit our village. The village will be open from 10am - 4pm, with a costumed guide leading a tour on the hour from 10am - 2pm. Tours are 1 1/2 hours long, walking through 8 buildings with some hands on activities led by the guide. The drug store and gift shop will be open with items to purchase. The museum will be open to walk through. Bring your own picnic lunch and eat on our village grounds before or after your tour.

Cost is $5 per person, age 3 and up, includes museum entrance, village tour, and ice cream cone in the drugstore after the tour.

Buy your tickets in the Dakota City office located in Ahlberg Hall. For questions please call our office.

August Dakota County Fair ( www.dakotacountyfair.org)

Visit us during the fabulous Dakota County Fair, one of the largest and oldest county fairs in the state! Dakota City buildings will be staffed with costumed hosts interpreting rural 1900-era life in Dakota County. Enjoy demonstrations on wood-stove cooking, blacksmithing, and many more. Enjoy bands and performers at the Bandstand and big-top tent all week long, and refreshments in the cool climate of the Drugstore.

August Scheduled club event for the Dakota County Two Cylinder Club

To be held at the Dakota County Fair Grounds in partnership with Dakota City. Farm demo including threshing & corn shredding on Thursday, Saturday & Sunday.

October Harvest Moon Festival

Harvest Moon Festival provides an opportunity to bring people of all ages to
experience activities of the past in our Village through hands-on demonstrations.

There are activities at different stations that may include:

    Hayride
    Shelling corn
    Getting water at the Fire Barn
    Playing old-fashioned games
           Plus many more activities

Adults can enjoy showing everyone how things were done in the past or learn themselves from costumed demonstrators and volunteers. Don’t forget to stop in the Museum and enjoy our new exhibits. Also check our Variety Store and Confectionery for candy, books, and gifts for all ages.

Harvest Moon Festival is for the young and the young-at-heart.

December Christmas in the Village/ Village Holidays

    Visit our buildings that will be lit with lights inside and out throughout our village.
    Draft horses draw trolleys and give visitors a ride around the village with a
    costumed guide.

Mrs. Santa will be in the Library so letters can be written to Santa. There will be cooking in the Harris House, Christmas trees in all the buildings, Choirs and individuals providing holiday music in the Church.

Spend a leisurely pre-holiday outing with us. Hot food and other refreshments are available in the Drug Store.

NOTE: Drive through the Village any evening during the month of December and see the buildings decorated with lights - a delightful photo opportunity.

Village History - Pictorial (click here)

Upcoming event:

Christmas in the Village -

Our buildings be lit with lights inside and out throughout our village. Draft horses draw trolleys and give visitors a ride around the village with a costumed guide.