The town of Winona was founded by a steamboat captain who saw the potential of having a river town set on an island in the Mississippi. During the lumber boom years, Winona was a thriving shipping town. Today it’s a destination for tourists who enjoy the historical sites and the gorgeous bluffs—not to mention the quirky houseboats along the river.
To See and Do
Historic Downtown Winona. Winona has more than 100 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, most built between 1857 and 1916 in Italianate or Queen Anne style. The best way to take in this large collection of Victorian commercial buildings (the largest concentration in Minnesota) is by foot. Free walking-tour brochures of the district are available from the convention and visitor bureau (507-452-0735 or 1-800-657-4972; visitwinona.com; 160 Johnson Street), the visitor center (924 Huff Street), or the Winona County Historical Society (507-454-2723; 160 Johnson Street).
Winona County Historical Museum (507-454-2723; winonahistory.org), 160 Johnson Street. Open daily. Adults $5; students $3; children under 7, students doing research, and Winona County Historical Society members free. The museum showcases a large and fascinating collection of local and regional historic exhibits, covering the usual (geologic history, river trade) as well as the less so (Cold War parking plans in the event of nuclear war). It’s kid-friendly, with lots of hands-on activities, including a climb-through cave and river steamboat.
Bunnell House (507-452-7575; winonahistory.org), MN 61 and County Route 14, Homer. Open Thurs.–Sun. from Jun.–Aug.; or by appointment. Adults $5; students $3; children under 7, students doing research, and Winona County Historical Society members free. Built in the mid-1800s by a fur trader named Willard Bunnell, the wood-framed Bunnell House was built in the Rural Gothic style. Tours take visitors through all three floors, which are furnished with many pieces original to the time period.
Minnesota Marine Art Museum (507-474-6626 or 1-866-940-6626; mmam.org), 800 Riverview Drive. Open Tues.–Sun. Adults $7; students $3; immediate families $20; children 4 and under museum members free. Every Tuesday is free for students. This attractive museum, with a scenic location along the Mississippi, has an extensive collection of marine art, folk art, photography, maps, and historical displays. The lively and varied artworks include pieces by Monet, O’Keeffe, Van Gogh, and Picasso.
Polish Cultural Institute (507-454-3431; polishmuseumwinona.org), 102 Liberty Street. Open Mon.–Sat. from May–Oct. Call for hours Nov.–Apr. (closed Good Friday). Admission $2. Group discounts are available. At one time, Winona had the largest concentration of Polish immigrants in the United States, and this museum reflects that heritage with antiques, folk art, religious items, and displays detailing the immigrant experience.
Pickwick Mill (507-457-0499; pickwick mill.org), 26421 County Route 7, Pickwick. Open Tues.–Sun. May–Oct.; by appointment Nov.–Apr. Adults $3; teens $2; children 12 and younger $1. A Civil War–era water-powered gristmill, the Pickwick operated continuously until 1978, and many of its original components and machines are on display today. The views from the upper floors of the mill are lovely. Note that the site cannot accept credit or debit cards, so bring cash.
Green Space and Outdoor Activities
CITY PARKS Winona has several city parks, three of which are of special interest.
Windom Park, Huff and W. Broadway Street. Small, only a city block in size, it’s surrounded by several Victorian homes (some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places), and it has a gazebo and a fountain with a sculpture of Princess Wenonah.
Lake Park, 900 Huff Street. On the shores of Lake Winona, Lake is a popular city park with an attractive rose garden (C.A. Rohrer Rose Garden), fishing piers, and a bandshell with weekly live concerts during the summer.
Gavin Heights City Park, Gavin Heights Road. Nearly 600 feet above the city, this overlook is spectacular, especially on a clear day.
STATE PARKS John A. Latsch State Park (507-643-6849; dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/john_latsch/index.html), 43605 Kipp Drive. Open daily. $7 day pass (or $35 for an annual pass). One of the lesser-visited state parks, this is worth a trip if you’re ready for some exercise; there’s a 0.5-mile stairway hike up to the top of bluffs, which leads to outstanding views of the Mississippi and surrounding bluffs.
THE MINNESOTA MARINE ART MUSEUM
Lodging
BED-AND-BREAKFASTS 
Alexander Mansion Bed and Breakfast (507-474-4224; alexandermansionbb.com), 274 E. Broadway Street. Four elaborately detailed Victorian rooms, all with private bath; five-course breakfast and evening wine social and turndown service are included. The 1886 mansion also has an extensive screened porch for guests to enjoy. Rates start at $97.
Carriage House Bed and Breakfast (507-452-8256; chbb.com), 420 Main Street. Built by lumber baron Conrad Bohn, the Carriage House was literally that—it originally housed six carriages and several horses. Today the renovated carriage house has four rooms and suites, along with access to a four-season porch, all with private baths and some with gas fireplaces, decorated in a cozy Victorian style. There are two additional rooms in the main family home. Breakfast is included daily, as is the use of single and tandem bicycles and, by prearrangement, a Model A Ford for local touring. Rates start at $119. Specials are available.
HOTELS 
Holiday Inn Express & Suites (507-474-1700; ihg.com), 1128 Homer Road. Of the more conventional hotels in Winona, the Holiday Inn is one of the nicest, with an indoor pool, sauna, and a daily hot breakfast bar. Rates start at $110.
AmericInn (1-877-946-6622; wyndhamhotels.com), 303 Pelzer Street. The AmericInn, located on the Mississippi River, has an indoor pool and whirlpool, and includes breakfast bar daily. Less typical of the usual AmericInn, this one has an on-site bar. Rates start at $118.
WATER-POWERED GRISTMILL AT THE PICKWICK MILL
Where to Eat
DINING OUT Signatures (507-454-3767; signatureswinona.com), 22852 County Route 17. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Don’t let the somewhat blah interior fool you; the food here is excellent, and you can feast on the outdoor views through the generous windows. Signatures works closely with local food producers, and this has resulted in some of the region’s best and most innovative foods on a frequently changing menu. Try the pork porterhouse or the house-made pastas. Expensive.
The Boat House (507-474-6550; boathousewinona.com), 2 Johnson Street. Open Tues.–Sun. for lunch and dinner. The Boathouse took an old ice cream parlor and rehabbed it into a small but lovely restaurant along the river (get there early if you want a table by the windows overlooking the water). Steaks, walleye, salmon, sandwiches, and appetizers. Moderate/expensive.
THE ALEXANDER MANSION BED AND BREAKFAST
EATING OUT Blue Heron Coffeehouse (507-452-7020; blueheroncoffeehouse.com), 162 W. 2nd Street. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Great home-cooked food with an emphasis on local, seasonal, and organic when possible. The menu of soups and sandwiches offers plenty of choices for vegetarians and vegans. Check out the list of local microbrews. Inexpensive.
Acoustic Café (507-453-0394; acousticcafewinona.com), 77 Lafayette Street. Open daily for all three meals. Hot hoagies, pita sandwiches, salads, and soups, along with a full coffee bar. Inexpensive.
Lakeview Drive Inn (507-454-3723; lakeviewdriveinn.com), 610 E. Sarnia Street. In business for more than 80 years, serving up quintessential drive-in food: burgers and sandwiches, hot dogs and sausages, and home-brewed root beer and ice cream. Inexpensive.
Special Events
June–August: Great River Shakespeare Festival (507-474-7900; grsf.org), 450 Johnson Street, Winona. Held late June to early August. When Great River opened its premier season in 2003, there were plenty of skeptics: Who would drive to Winona to watch professional Shakespearian theater? Turns out plenty of people are happy to do just that, especially when it takes them into the heart of the river bluff country. Great River performs several plays each year, always including multiple Shakespeare pieces but along with a few modern shows as well, and the festival has quickly gained national stature. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for students. Note that there are “pay as you can” tickets for preview performances on a standby basis.
BUNNELL HOUSE IN HOMER
THE BOAT HOUSE RESTAURANT