10 Reasons to Visit Wadena

[And There Are Many More!]

Discover Our History: 1

Wadena has some notable historic places worth exploring. One such site is the Wadena County Historical Society, which preserves and showcases the area's history through exhibits and artifacts. They provide opportunities for people to curate genealogy research resources for those interested in family history. They are located at 603 Jefferson Street North. For more information, call (218) 631-9079.

The Northern Pacific Depot, a restored train station, is another landmark that offers insight into the town's past and the Wadena Area Chamber of Commerce’s office is housed in the historic Depot. These sites provide a glimpse into Wadena's history, making it a destination for those interested in local heritage.

The Depot is located at 100 Aldrich Avene SW. FMI, call the Chamber at (218) 632-7704.

Wadena is also known for notable people in history. The town was named after Chief Wadena, a prominent Ojibwe leader in the 19th century. Chief Wadena played a significant role in the region, and the town and county were named in recognition of his influence and contributions to the area's history. Forrest Mars Sr. was born March 21, 1904 in Wadena, the only child of Franklin Mars, the founder of the Mars Candy Company. He was an American billionaire businessman and the driving force of the Mars candy empire. He is best known for introducing Milky Way (1924) and Mars (1932) chocolate bars, and M&M's (1941) chocolate, as well as orchestrating the launch of Uncle Ben's Rice. Mars retired from Mars Inc., in 1973, turning the company over to his children. Mars passed away at the age of 95 on July 1, 1999 in Florida, having amassed a fortune of $4 billion.