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540 West Hills Circle
Owatonna, Minnesota 55060
Directions

Self-Guided Tour Hours
Museum
Monday-Friday: 8 am-4:30 pm
Saturday-Sunday: 1 pm-5 pm
Closed Major Holidays

Cottage 11
Tuesday-Sunday
May 1-Labor Day:1pm-4pm
Labor Day-Dec 31: 1pm-3pm
Closed January and February
March 15-April 30: 1pm-3pm
or by appt. at 507-774-7369
$2 per person donation appreciated.

Campus
Seasonal: May 1-November 1
Map available in main museum with QR codes.
Six audio stations.

Group Tours
We happily schedule guided tours for groups of 10 or more. You will visit the Museum, view a 1930 film, and tour Cottage 11, a restored boys' cottage. A fee is charged. Group Tours Page

Contact Us
507-774-7369
museum@owatonna.gov
Request Records
Volunteer
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They Were Called State Schoolers

Legacy FundThere were 10,635 of them between 1886 and 1945, kids orphaned, abandoned,
or abused who were sent to Owatonna, Minnesota, home of the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. It was once the third largest institution of its kind in the nation.

The Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum was founded to
"Remember the Children" who lived there. For each child, their experience was unique. Some found it a safe haven, while others found it traumatic.

Visit us to learn about the history of the school. Explore the Museum,
historic Cottage 11, the Children's Cemetery, and interactive campus to get a
glimpse of what life was like for the children who called the orphanage their home.

Whether you schedule a guided group tour or choose a self-guided visit, you
will find unforgettable history awaiting you in Owatonna.

Looking for Children's Records?
Go to Request Records.

Orphanage Group