Aerial view of a building with an orange roof surrounded by extensive flooding. The adjacent parking lot and surrounding greenery are partially submerged in water. Trees and partially flooded fields can be seen in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Minnesota River Flood 2024

The rising waters of the Minnesota River have long posed a challenge for the History Center, reminding us of the constant vigilance needed to protect our heritage. Since the 1993 floods, when the waters surrounded the construction trailers, high-water closures have become a routine part of our lives. But this

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Bent motel sign by the Dairy Queen

MARCH 29, 1998 TORNADO

On March 29, 1998, tornados swept through southern Minnesota, devastating our region. Just after 5:00 PM, residents had only about ten minutes to take shelter once they heard the warning sirens. Propelled by 150-mile-an-hour winds, the tornado cut a mile-wide swath through town. We remember where we’ve been, what we’ve

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