2025 Events

Attendees toured 11 private homes and cabins including: traditional brick homes; classic wood-clad farmhouses; a remodeled farmhouse and barn overlooking Big Marine Lake; two recently renovated hand-hewn log cabins with dovetail corners built by early Swedish settlers; a river cottage in historic Otisville (an area popular with St. Paul families in the early 20th century); and a 1970s prairie house overlooking the St. Croix River designed by Stillwater architect Michael McGuire. The tour also featured the Erickson Log House (on the National Register of Historic Places) owned by Washington County Historical Society, as well as the historic log church at Gammelgården Museum. 

Particapnts discovered the intriguing stories of Knapp's Cave, Cedar Bend Swing Bridge, and Log House Landing on this paddle / hike adventure that started at Osceola Landing and continued to Log House Landing in Scandia. The tour included a short (but rigorous) hike to Knapp's Cave to hear its vibrant history. Knapp’s Cave is the largest natural cave in the St. Croix River Valley. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was used as a temporary camp by Native Americans as early as the Archaic period (7000 – 500 BC). During the height of Swedish immigration, newcomers sometimes used the cave for temporary housing until they could build a suitable home. It was rumored that a thief once stashed 16 head of cattle here in the 1870s.

An audience of over 100 guests stepped back in time with Architectural Historian Charlene Roise to discover reasons behind the unique design of Scandia's Water Tower Barn that once stood behind the Scandia Mercantile. Using a 1905 Aermotor manual as a guide, Charlene studied the windmill remnants that remained in the building and unraveled the mystery behind a double outer wall on the tower, beefy windmill supports, and water tank design. 

Scandia Heritage Alliance is proud to have joined forces with Gammelgården Museum and the City of Scandia the past three winters to expand Scandia Vinterfest with FREE family activities! Events have included:
-- Historic displays - Historic Fur Trade hosted by Minnesota Historical Society (2025); Historic Ice Harvesting (2024); Vintage skis, snowshoes, and winter gear (2023)

-- Meet a sled dog team -- and kids try mushing
-- Kubb Tournament – an Ancient Viking Game

-- Meet the Raptors from the Wildlife Science Center

-- Goosechase Trivia Treasure Hunt

A Fundraiser to Benefit Preservation Projects: Raise Our Historic Water Tower Barn

Scandia residents and friends joined for an evening of laughter, camaraderie, and a chance to get to know their neighbors. Guests progressed through three dinner courses at local homes, followed by dessert at Gammelgården Museum. 

Melissa Walls (Bois Forte and Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe) shared surprising parallels between Ojibwe and Swedish culture, and Lukas Walls  spoke about the Emmy award-winning Swedish TV show Allt för Sverige. This free speaker series was sponsored by Scandia Heritage Alliance as part of Spelmansstämman (Fiddlefest) on the grounds of Gammelgården Museum.

This scenic boat tour celebrated Vice President Walter Mondale, who was instrumental in passing the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that protects the St. Croix River. The river was influential in Mondale's own life. He took his future wife canoeing on the St. Croix through Scandia for one of their first dates and, later, their love of the river led them to purchase a Scandia home. 

Did you know that Scandia-Marine farmers often worked winters at logging camps across the state? At our Aug. 20 presentation at Gammelgarden Museum's Spelmansstamman (Fiddle Fest), local artifact collector Mark McGinley displayed iron log stamps, bark marks, and logging tools found n the St. Croix River. He presented to audiences on the first commercial sawmill at Marine Mills and the many Swedish and other nationality immigrants who arrived in this area and worked at logging camps during the winter. Being employed by one of the camps could fulfill their dream of buying land, clearing it, and building a suitable log home and barn for their family. Fiddlers were an integral part of logging camps, providing entertainment for hard-working lumberjacks. Logging songs on the fiddle followed Mark's presentation. 

Ever pondered the stories behind Scandia's historic buildings? What businesses flourished on Olinda Trail and Oakhill Road in the early 1900s? Over 75 guests joined us to walk the Village Center and hear our city's tales of entrepreneurship, bank robbery, fire, and tornado. The historic walking tour concluded with lunch at Meister's Bar & Grill - also a historic site. Tour stops included the Scandia Creamery, the historic Frank Lake House, the Scandia Bank Building and vault (Apothecary's Daughter), Scandia Mercantile, Elim Church, the Farmer's Bank Building (Dickins Pickins), and Meister's Bar & Grill (previously Shalanders Store). 

Over 150 people attended the 2021 fundraising event at our local Redeemed Farm venue in Scandia, raising over $8,000 for Scandia Heritage Alliance programs and projects. Guests enjoyed a perfect fall evening with live music provided by Prairie Anthem, a Scandia history artifact display by Mark McGinley, and dinner in the historic barn served by Lake Elmo Inn. A live farm-style auction concluded the evening. 

In 2022, guests enjoyed another magical evening at Redeemed Farm. After mingling through the early evening and enjoying a casual dinner menu by Lake Elmo Inn, guests danced to Riverside Swing Band in the historic barn. Local artifact collector Mark McGinley presented a tribute to Cal Rutstrum, a wilderness adventurer and author who lived in Marine on St. Croix from 1927-1982. 

Over 70 guests attended our inaugural History Series event, held outdoor Gammelgarden Museum. Mark McGinley, a collector of local history and artifacts, has been going to local Scandia-Marine auctions and estate sales with his wife Dawn since the mid-1980s to augment accounts from local history books. With his passion for local history, Mark presented a timeline on the development of Marine Mills Township, leading to the split-off of New Scandia and May townships in 1893. The discussion covered early history of Marine Mills, Vasa, Otisville, Copas, Scandia, and Marine on St. Croix. 

Over 70 guests joined us for this successful fundraising event that included a tour of the stunning Rustic Roots Winery, located in the heart of Scandia's St. Croix River Valley. Music was provided by Riverside Unplugged, with dinner hosted in the winery's heated pergola tent. 

Our inaugural Progressive Dinner was held November 3, 2018, with over 70 attendees -- and our second  Progressive Dinner was held September 29, 2019.