Alexandria offers a range of ways to shape your stay: collections on life by the water, a historic house, a distinctive statue and live performances. When planning, it is worth distinguishing the museums’ themes from seasonal markets, guided tours and individual theater dates. This can help you decide which activities will define your stay and which fit into your visit schedule.
Museums between collections and lake culture
The Native American Exhibit at the Runestone Museum displays objects from the Ojibwe and Dakota peoples from the Dr. Oliver Collection. Examples include ceremonial pipes and beadwork. The Runestone Museum is located in downtown Alexandria. The exhibit has a different focus from the offerings on lake culture: it centers on objects from a named collection and from two Indigenous peoples.
The Legacy of the Lakes Museum focuses on Minnesota’s lake culture. Its exhibits cover classic boats, the history of fishing and traditions of life on the water. It also features an extensive, constantly changing collection of classic boats, engines and memorabilia related to life on lakes. The wooden boat collection includes rare boats by Chris-Craft, Gar Wood, Century and Hackercraft, as well as boats built in Minnesota. This museum is also located in downtown Alexandria. Compared with the Runestone Museum, its themes focus more on boats, fishing and life on the water.
Historic house and guided tours
The historic Knute Nelson House is one of the oldest buildings in Douglas County. The Douglas County Historical Society offers guided tours of the historic Senator Knute Nelson House. If you plan to take this tour, check the visiting hours in advance: tour times may change. This makes the experience different from the museum themes described above, as a visit here depends on a specific guided tour.
Big Ole Park: statue, trail and markets
Big Ole, a 28-foot (about 8.5-meter) Viking statue, stands in Big Ole Park. The park is also the starting point of the Central Lakes Trail. The statue and trailhead offer two different points of interest: you can take in Big Ole as a distinctive landmark or consider the park as the trail’s starting point. The height conversion is approximate; the statue is listed as 28 feet tall.
The park also hosts seasonal markets. Alexandria’s Farmer’s Market takes place three times a week in summer and fall. It offers locally grown produce and other food items. In summer, there is also an art market on Saturdays: local artists sell their work, accompanied by music. The event runs from 10 a.m. until the end of the day. Check the dates for your specific visit for both markets; the recurring schedule does not specify a particular calendar date. The Farmer’s Market spans a broader season, while the art market is held on summer Saturdays.
A theater visit based on the schedule
The Andria Theatre produces ten shows each year, including musicals, comedies and dramas. Individual schedules change. If you want to include a show in your stay, plan around the specific date rather than relying solely on the annual number of productions. This lets you consider the theater program as a distinct focus alongside the collections, tours and seasonal events.
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