Dakota City is a collection of historic buildings from around the Dakota County area, put together to represent a rural Minnesota village in the early 1900s. We are located in Farmington on the Dakota County Fairgrounds. History comes alive for school children and adults can reminisce as our costumed docents lead educational tours that explain rural country life in 1900.

Start times are flexible and determined when you call to schedule your tour. School Tours are offered in the spring (late April – June)  and can be customized to enhance your curriculum. Other tours are offered as noted.

For more information or to schedule your tour, call our office at 651-460-8050, or email us at education@dakotacity.org. All tours must be scheduled at least 3 weeks in advance.

Hands-On History   Grades K-2

The Hands On History Tour is a 2-hour walking tour through 6 – 9 buildings in the Village with a costumed docent and may include:

– helping with chores at the Harris House

– gathering eggs at the “farm”

– “bartering” at the general store

– touching items at the blacksmith or watching the carpenter at work

– using writing slates and chalk in the one-room school

– hand-dipped ice cream cone at the drugstore

This program can accommodate up to six small groups at one time (minimum 10 students, maximum 60 total – if you have more students, two days may be scheduled). The cost is $8 per person with no charge for one teacher and one aide/para/chaperone per class. Additional adults (parent chaperones) are $8 each. The option is available to bring your own brown bag lunch and have a picnic at the drugstore. We will serve a hand-dipped ice cream cone (or popsicle for those with allergies) from our old-fashioned drugstore (included in the price) for dessert. Depending on the number of students, this will add about 30 – 45 minutes to your tour time.

 

Village Experience   Grades 3-6

The Village Experience is a 2-hour tour that includes 9 buildings in the Village with a costumed docent. Some hands-on activities may include:

– using the slates and chalk in the one-room school

– touching items at the blacksmith or watching the carpenter at work

– “withdrawing” money at the bank

– “shopping” at the general store

– helping with chores at the Harris House

– hand-dipped ice cream cone at the drugstore

This program can accommodate up to six small groups at one time (minimum 10 students, maximum 70 total – if you have more students, two days may be scheduled). The cost is $8 per person with no charge for one teacher and one aide/para/chaperone per class. Additional adults (parent chaperones) are $8 each. The option is available to bring your own brown bag lunch and have a picnic at the drugstore. We will serve a hand-dipped ice cream cone (or popsicle for those with allergies) from our old-fashioned drugstore (included in the price) for dessert. Depending on the number of students, this will add about 30 – 45 minutes to your tour time.

 

One-Room School House (2nd grade and up)

This 4-hour program includes:

– two hours in the One Room School with a costumed school marm, doing 1900-era lessons using lesson books they can keep, and slate boards with chalk

– outside recess playing an old-fashioned game (weather permitting) or inside if bad weather

– eat your picnic lunch (bring your own) outside the Drugstore, with a hand-dipped ice cream cone after

–  a 90-minute guided walking tour with a costumed docent through selected buildings in our Village

The program is limited to two groups (minimum 10 students, max 50 total). The charge is $8 per person with no charge for one teacher and one aide/para/chaperone per class. Additional adults are $8 each. All school supplies are provided (slate boards, chalk, crayons, pencils, school books).

 

Home School Tours   Mixed Ages (age 3 and up)

Tours are also available for homeschool groups. These tours are tailored for the ages of the children and length of the tour time, similar to the school tours. The cost is $8 per person. A tour can be scheduled for a minimum of 10 students and a maximum of 60. Contact our office to set up the details of your Home School Tour at 651-460-8050 or education@dakotacity.org.

At our Summer Camps, children can live life through a 1900’s child by learning in a one-room school, doing chores in the family home, dressing in old-fashioned clothes, practicing a trade, and visiting our Village buildings. Our Master Apprentice and Junior Apprentice camps are 4 days long – each day is different, but builds on the knowledge and activities from the previous day. Our Hands on day camp is one full day of sample activities from the Junior Apprentice camp.

The theme for 2026 is “Farm Life”. Children had a very different life growing up on a farm in 1900 than they do today. What were the jobs that children were expected to help with? Did they have free time to play? We will explore what is was like to live on a rural farm in 1900, with animals to care for and chores to do. Always fun are the vintage games to play and hands-on activities to do, with things to bring home each day. We will also be working on special entertainment for our last-day program this year.