The 2024 History on the River Cruise Series, hosted by the Winona County Historical Society is on sale now! Experience the vibrant tapestry of history, nature, culture, and arts against the picturesque backdrop of the Mississippi River. These engaging cruises offer a unique opportunity to delve into the essence of what makes our region so extraordinary.
Choose from a selection of cruise times available in May, June, July, August, and September. Each cruise will feature informative presentations delivered during two time slots, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., allowing participants to select their preferred timing. Indulge in refreshments as you absorb the rich heritage of this Mississippi River area.
Make cruise payments in person at the Winona County History Center or by phone at 507-454-2723 ext. 0. Individual Cruise Cost: $35 for WCHS members, $45 for the public. Season Cruise Cost: $150 for WCHS members, $200 for the public.
2024 Season Schedule:
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May 30: “‘Musical Chairs’ & Celebrating Over a Century of Municipal Music” with Ruth Bures & The Winds of Winona. The City of Winona built a bandshell in the Classical Revival style in Lake Park near the north shore of Lake Winona in 1924. A century later, it still is host to concerts by the Winona Municipal Band and others. In celebration, band member Ruth Bures has recently published “Musical Chairs,” a book chronicling the story of band director Orville Reese. Enjoy some live music and hear stories from Ruth’s new book!
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June 27: “Steamboats on a Smaller Scale” with Frederick Beseler. Frederick Beseler, who grew up along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River in Trempealeau, Wisconsin, will talk about the numerous steamboat models that he restored for WCHS about 10 years ago. The models were built in the 1940s and ‘50s by Jacob Mathias of Wabasha, Minnesota. Frederick will talk about Mr. Mathias and how he built the models, as well as Frederick’s restoration process. He will also provide a history of each of the real steamboats that were frequently seen along the Mississippi and at Winona’s levee 100 years and more ago.
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July 25: Live Music with Stacy Hughes. Stacy Hughes is a singer/songwriter who has been performing for over 30 years. She brings her beautiful voice aboard for some great music on the river.
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August 29: “The First 100 Years of the ‘Upper Miss’ River Refuge” with John Nissen. Established in 1924 to be a refuge for fish, wildlife and plants and a breeding place for migratory birds, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge now covers more than 240,000 acres and extends roughly 261 miles of the Mississippi River across four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.
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September 19: “Hannibal’s Invisibles” with G. Faye Dant & Art of the Rural. Dant is the Founding Director of Jim’s Journey: The Huck Finn Freedom Center, which is the only Black history museum in northeastern Missouri. She is the author of the soon-to-be-published “Hannibal’s Invisibles,” a collection of decidedly universal stories in a coffee table book that chronicles the life of local Colored faces and Colored places using vintage photographs.