The Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum preserves the history of an historic 1885 orphanage in Owatonna that once served as the third-largest institution of its kind in the United States. The orphanage campus served as the home for more than 10,000 children between its construction and its closing in 1945, housing orphaned, abandoned, abused, and neglected children throughout the Minnesota region. Today, visitors can tour the preserved historic building campus, which has been converted into an interactive living history museum. Self-guided tours can explore buildings such as the Children's Cemetery and historic Cottage 11 and view historic videos, photos, and artifacts that tell the stories of former child residents.
540 W Hills Cir, Owatonna, MN 55060, Phone: 507-774-7369