Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Historic Forestville

    5.0 (2 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Historic Forestville Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Historic Forestville

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    3 years ago

    Great place to hike, fish hunt and find yourself. Learn about the areas history at the same time.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    13 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Historic Forestville

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

    5.0(2 reviews)
    10.1 mi

    This was a total hidden gem. We stumbled upon this lovely museum because our roadside app told us…read moreabout some wood carvings of the 3 Stooges on the corner. I spotted "Laura Ingalls Wilder" on the church sign next to Mo and dragged hubby over. This church is now a museum. Almanzo Wilder and his family moved to Spring Valley from New York. Laura and Almanzo lived here in 1890 and attended this church which the Wilder family helped finance. Very interesting collection of photos and momentos from this time. Admission also includes either a one or 2 hour tour. We had only 20 minutes and the young guide did a great job hitting all the key items. We also rushed through the local history section which was also very unique. Don't miss the white wolf, 1950s perm machine or the medical kit from the "Lady Doctor" who was certified to practice medicine in 1838!

    This is one of the best historical museums in Minnesota if not the nation and compares favorably…read morewith the best museums I've visited around the world. It covers the history of Spring Valley and its environs from before 5,000 BC to the present, focusing on the Wilder family and the history of this area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Frankly, I could simply not believe depth and breath of the exhibits here when I recently visited for the first time. I learned many interesting, why-did-I-not-know-this facts. The Wilder family, for example, made a sizeable contribution for the construction of the Methodist church in which the museum is located. Almonzo Wilder, who married Laura Ingalls, had a childhood friend named Richard Sears, who went on to found Sears with his partner, Alvah Roebuck. And, it really surprised me to learn that Dr. Henry Plummer, the Mayo brothers' right hand man, graduated from Spring Valley High School. There is much, much more. If you want to learn about Minnesota, visit this place and skip the State Fair this year.

    Photos
    Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum
    Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum

    See all

    International Owl Center

    International Owl Center

    5.0(10 reviews)
    32.3 mi

    We visited the International Owl Center for one of their programs a few weeks ago. We paid $18 for…read moretwo people and it was definitely worth it, especially if you love owls and care about conservation. We arrived early and had time to walk around an check out their adorable gift shop. Even if you can't make it to a program, the gift shop alone is worth a stop and the proceeds go to an amazing cause. There were 3 owls present for our program but Ruby was the star of the show and the only one to be brought out for viewing. Our speaker advised that there are typically 5 owls present but they have to be transported to the center daily and if they don't feel like coming, they are not made to. I love that! JR the Eastern Screech Owl was also there but he never really came out so I could get a look at him (although I did hear him once and his little "screech" was nothing like I expected!) and Bea the burrowing owl was also there. She was my absolute favorite with her dainty size and her sweet, although shy, disposition. I never even knew there owls that nest underground before seeing her. We learned a lot about these amazing animals and things we can do to help them and although our program was full of adults and seniors, I think this would be a really great thing to do with children. For instance, through an exhibit about wingspan, we learned that my husband has the wingspan of a Blakiston's Fish Owl and I have the wingspan of a Eurasian Eagle Owl. They have plenty of interesting exhibits about the different sizes and types of owls and we made sure to "Make a pledge to save owls" before leaving. They also sell artwork from the community and are working very hard to raise money for a new facility for these beautiful creatures so I recommend coming to visit if you are able and having a nice time while helping a very good cause.

    This is an amazing place. So interesting- informative- family friendly-and educational. The owls…read moreare magical. The staff kind and programs presented are great. Gift shop has a wonderful assortment of owl themed products. Also- the kids art from all around the world is amazing. Please support the owls and this wonderful Owl Center.

    Photos
    International Owl Center
    International Owl Center
    International Owl Center

    See all

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum - The school house.

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum

    5.0(4 reviews)
    21.4 mi

    Burr Oak is a very small town tucked between the Minnesota border and the Iowa city of Decorah. We…read morevisited on a quiet Saturday. We paid for our tickets in the gift shop, then crossed the street to the old hotel, where we joined a tour that had just begun. The docent was great, bringing to life the history of the building, Laura's life, and present efforts to restore the property. I've wanted to visit Burr Oak for decades so that I could better understand the portion of Laura's life that she omitted from her fictionalized autobiography. Our tour took a little over an hour. We went throughout the hotel and then outside, where we could also visit the neighboring one-room schoolhouse. We then returned to the gift shop to look around. Visitors should note that the buildings are not readily accessible to handicapped individuals. In particular, the stairs to the attic guest rooms were quite steep and narrow. My very-tall husband had to be very careful when he went up there, too, as the ceiling is low.

    Burr Oak, Iowa, is the only location where Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family lived that was not…read moreincluded in the Little House series of books. The volunteer board along with a part-time director, a part-time curator, and part-time summer tour guides have done an amazing job preserving three historic buildings in Burr Oak including the hotel where Laura and her family lived, and worked. The volunteer board has also acquired a fourth historic building, the Mercantile. I can not wait to see their vision for the Mercantile come to fruition. They also maintain a park that adds to the experience. In addition to summer tours, there is also a summer festival at the end of June celebrating life as it was when Laura and her family lived in Burr Oak. It is a fun time to be in Burr Oak.

    Photos
    Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum - School room

    School room

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum - Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa.

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa.

    Laura Ingalls Wilder Park & Museum - Home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder visitor center.

    See all

    Home of the Laura Ingalls Wilder visitor center.

    Dahl Auto Museum

    Dahl Auto Museum

    5.0(5 reviews)
    48.3 mi

    This place is incredible! Every car is owned by the Dahl family and extremely well preserved! If…read moreyou are getting you vehicle serviced at their shop next door, admission is free. Otherwise, admission is only $5, and that is a deal for the cars you'll see! Aside from the cars, they have a very cool hood ornament display case, as well as a timeline that includes the history of cars and includes the price of fuel and milk and U.S. population, etc., along the way. I took many more photos than what I posted because you really have to see the collection in person. They really have some special gems including a Subaru model that only 209 of were manufactured in 2019, so super rare. I consider this a must-visit when in La Crosse whether you are a car enthusiast or not!

    The best museum in La Crosse and like best auto museum in Wisconsin…read more The downtown museum is in an optimum location with free and easy parking right on the street in front of the museum. Adults $5 with seniors even less. The cars are packed into the location but visitors can access each car with360 Degree clearance so you can see the from every angle. The age of this collection goes all the way back to 1909 up to 2016 and each car is pristinely restored and maintained. Displays for each vehicles gives year, model, and model specs as well as cultural details relevant to its time. Really interesting! They capture the not only the timeline of the dealership since its founding, but aspects of La Crosse's specific history, the auto industry as a whole, and America's culture. The hood ornament collection and the gas pump illuminated signs really complement the value of this museum. All of this is accomplished by adding great graphics and neon to pull it all together. My only wish is that the building was even bigger to hold them and grow this magnificent collection. I am not knowledgeable about cars, but this museum was a delight even for people like me. I would guess about 40-50 cars and trucks are on display. Many convertibles! I spent about 2 hours here appreciating this beautifully curated collection. Oh, the space can also be rented for corporate functions and small weddings, too! Finally, It is never packed so it is easy to enjoy time here without having to fight your way through a crowd. Don't miss it. It is worth a special trip to the city just for this museum on a rainy day.

    Photos
    Dahl Auto Museum
    Dahl Auto Museum
    Dahl Auto Museum

    See all

    Historic Forestville - museums - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...