St. Marks Episcopal Church
The Church Mission was begun in Tracy, MN under the care of Rev. C.I. Haupt, Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, on October 13, 1899. Later, the congregation rented a vacant building and used it until this church was erected in 1901-1902.

St. Mark’s is available for rental for weddings, renewal of vows, baptisms, etc.
$100.00 Damage Deposit.
$100.00 Fee

C.& N.W.R. Engine
Our signature attraction is our four-unit freight train. The engine is a 1915 American locomotive used in the yard of the St. Paul railroad system. The engine and the coal car were sold to a private owner in Rochester, MN and later sold again to the museum site.

To complement the engine we were able to obtain an immigrant box car from the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad and finally added the caboose which is the rolling workstation.

The John H. Low Cabin
In November of 1863 an expedition of 140 wagons, each drawn by two or three yokes of oxen, were sent out from Mankato to carry supplies to Fort Thompson, SD, on the Missouri River. John H. Low was a "Bull Whacker" (or teamster) on this expedition. They entered Murray County in what is now the township of Dovray on an old government trail.

During this time they passed by a lake they called Bear Lake. A good stand of timber was available and the brothers decided to stake out a homestead. The lake was also called "The Great Oasis". The men erected their cabins from the logs they harvested (The year was 1866).

District #91, Established 1897
The Teacher usually lived with a family in
the district and was responsible for the housekeeping and janitor chores at the school. out buildings on the school grounds included the two outdoor toilets and a coal shed.

The teacher had to start the fire in the space heater every cold morning and keep it going to heat the classroom. The coal had to be carried in and the ashes out. Those whose desks were close to the stove were usually too warm, while those in the other corner were cold.

The Chapel
In August of 1990, we began a search for a small building to complete our main street. We heard that the county commissioners were vacating the properties just west of the courthouse in Marshall, MN and that there was a building available.

Upon inspection, we found the perfect little "store". It was 12x20x12 and had indeed been a little convenience store in the 40's. This building became our chapel. Inside you will find authentic church memorabilia from the late 1800's.

Monroe Town Hall
This building was a town hall in 1890 that was moved two miles west on Highway 14 to replace a school house that had burned down. It was used as a schoolhouse, known as the Muedeking School, and Pleasant View School, until 1954.

At that time, District 417 absorbed all country schools into the district. The town hall continues to function as an active part of the grassroots government in session, even though it has been moved to the museum property.