The Landing

Historic buildings at The Landing in Shakopee.

FILE PHOTO

Taking a step back in time

The Landing showcases 1800s-era Minnesota

The Landing, a Minnesota River Heritage Park, shows visitors how 19th century Minnesotans lived.

The historical buildings are laid out in a timeline from the pre-territorial era through the late-1800s.

Visitors can explore the site by themselves, or through a tour with a costumed guide, and watch as costumed interpreters re-enact history events.

Monday is “wash day,” in which a staff member, usually dressed in 1880s period clothing, will set up wash equipment and let people use old scrub boards.

The “Journey to Minnesota” is the most interactive program, according to Bill Walker, supervisor for historical participation at Three Rivers Park District, which operates the park. The program walks participants through the different steps that they might take as new immigrants coming to Minnesota in the 1850s.

“What do you bring with you? What do you leave behind? How do you choose your farm site? How do you build a farm out in the middle of the big woods,” Walker asked, adding that there are multiple hands-on activities, like sawing logs, building a log cabin, farm chores and taking care of animals.

Starting in 2019, the park moved away from a model where people would buy a ticket and interact with reenactors on any given Saturday, living the life of a frontiersperson.

“Now you’re interacting with one of our staff members, usually in period clothing representative of the time, but you’re actually getting to try your hand at some of those different activities,” Walker said.

The park also features .7 miles of biking trails, 1.7 miles of dog trails along the Minnesota River or through the historic village and a one-mile turf trail along the Minnesota River that features some of the best bird watching in the metro area and allows snowshoeing in the winter.

“During the winter you can actually see a lot of activity ... everything from river otters to beavers, because they’re easier to track in the area,” Walker said. “But the views from the river are spectacular.”

There is also a general picnic area for families to relax or have a snack. Visitors can also rent a picnic shelter for various events like weddings or family reunions.

The park grounds are open daily and access is free, except for access to the interior of the historic buildings, which costs $5 for a guided tour. Visitors should expect to walk one to two miles during their visit.

THE LANDING

Location: 2187 Highway 101 E Shakopee Hours: 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Cost: Park is free; two-hour program, $4.80 per participant Info: www.threeriversparks.org/location/landing; 763-559-9000