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Limestone bluffs rise straight behind Winona, a river city of about 25,000 people on a sandbar of the Mississippi in southeastern Minnesota. In the late 1800s sawmills and steamboats made it one of the richest towns in the state, and the profits paid for ornate banks, churches and storefronts that still give its downtown a rare unity.
The name comes from Wenonah, a figure in Dakota tradition, and the area was long home to Wapasha's band of Dakota. Polish and German immigrants followed the lumber boom, leaving landmarks such as the towering Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka. Three colleges keep the town lively, and the Great River Shakespeare Festival draws audiences each summer.
Visitors come for the river and the views: Garvin Heights overlooks the valley from nearly 600 feet up, Lake Winona is ringed by a walking path, and houseboats float off Latsch Island. The Minnesota Marine Art Museum adds a surprisingly rich art collection, and Great River Bluffs State Park and the Great River Road lead deeper into bluff country.
A riverside museum that pairs art inspired by water with a surprisingly strong collection of European and American paintings, including works by Impressionist masters. Galleries also show Mississippi River folk art and photography. Allow two hours, and step out to the back lawn for a view of the river and Latsch Island.
A small museum and store in the historic J.R. Watkins company complex, telling the story of the door-to-door salesmen who sold Watkins liniment, vanilla and spices across America from the 1860s on. The ornate administration building nearby is a downtown landmark. Pick up a bottle of the famous vanilla to take home.
A large regional museum set in a former National Guard armory, with exhibits on Dakota history, steamboats, lumber mills and everyday life in Winona County. Families find hands-on displays for children. Plan about an hour, and check the schedule for walking tours of historic downtown.
A museum in a former lumber company building that preserves the heritage of Winona's Kashubian Polish community, once one of the largest in America. Displays include folk costumes, religious art, crafts and family records. Volunteers are glad to explain the history; hours are seasonal and limited.
A city park on top of the bluffs, with a short paved path leading to an overlook nearly 600 feet above Winona. The view sweeps across the town, Lake Winona, the Mississippi and the Wisconsin bluffs beyond. A winding road climbs to the parking area; sunset and fall color are the best times to come.
A tall limestone pinnacle above the south end of town, left standing when quarry workers cut stone from the bluff in the 1800s. It is Winona's best-known silhouette and can be seen from much of the city. Steep trails reach the base for experienced hikers, but most visitors admire it from Lake Winona.
A grand domed church built in 1894 by Winona's Polish community and named a minor basilica in 2011. The interior glows with murals, stained glass and an ornate altar. It is an active parish, so visit outside Mass times, and look for the Polish inscriptions throughout the East End neighborhood.
A 1912 bank designed by Purcell and Elmslie, considered one of the finest Prairie School buildings in America, with huge stained-glass windows and terra-cotta ornament. It still operates as a bank, so look inside during business hours. It stands on Third Street in the heart of the historic downtown.
A long, narrow lake between downtown and the bluffs, wrapped by Lake Park and a paved path of about five miles for walking, running and biking. A bandshell hosts summer concerts, and anglers fish from the shore. Rent a bike or walk a section at sunset, when Sugar Loaf glows above the water.
A state park about 20 minutes southeast of Winona with prairie-topped bluffs, hardwood forest and overlooks high above the Mississippi valley. Hiking trails lead to King's and Queen's bluffs, and the campground is quiet and wooded. A state park vehicle permit is required; autumn color is spectacular here.
An island in the Mississippi just across the bridge from downtown, known for its colony of colorful floating boathouses that locals have used for generations. A beach, boat launch and shady picnic spots fill the rest. Respect the private boathouses, and watch for barges and eagles on the river.
A professional summer theater festival held on the Winona State University campus from late June into early August. Actors perform Shakespeare and other classics in rotating repertory, with talks, concerts and free events around town. Seeing two or three plays over a weekend is popular, so book seats early.
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Photo: Yinan Chen, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain
