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Washington County Historic Courthouse
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Park operations changes due to COVID-19
Based on the Governor’s Order 21-01, Washington County Parks has a few changes in operation effective as of Sunday, January 10, 2021 at 11:59 pm. Read on...
Visiting the Historic Courthouse
Located high on the hill overlooking downtown Stillwater, the Washington County Historic Courthouse is the longest standing courthouse in the state of Minnesota, serving as the county seat for over 100 years. Now a Washington County Park, the Historic Courthouse offers daily guided and self-guided tours, activities for families, educational programming for the public, schools and scouts, public events, and private meeting and event rental spaces.
Please see the menu on the left-hand side for more details.
Additional Activities
In addition to self-guided and guided tours, the Washington County Historic Courthouse offers fun activities for children, families, and all those who are young-at-heart.
- Scavenger Hunt
Step into the shoes of a County Sheriff and hone your detective skills with the Courthouse Scavenger Hunt. Search for items throughout the building - children who find them all will win a prize! - Playing the Past
Uncover the history of Washington County and the lives of area residents using our interactive biography boxes and timeline. Using what you have learned as inspiration, create your own character. Visit the clothing display and dress up as your character! Will you be a pioneer, a fine Victorian lady/gentleman, judge, or deputy? - Create a Comic Strip or Write Your Own Story
Learn about the courthouse mice, Gus & Sig, along with Winfield the Cat - lovable characters created by courthouse volunteers. Create your own stories and comic strips about people or animals that live in historic places. - Children’s Corner
Stop by the children’s corner to touch and feel courthouse artifacts, including tiles and snow catchers, or stamp a county seal using an antique stamp.
*A St. Croix Valley History curriculum unit is also available for teachers and homeschools using the interactive biography boxes available at the Historic Courthouse.
Self-gu
ided Walking Tours
Begin a self-guided walking tour of downtown Stillwater or the South Hill neighborhood at the Washington County Historic Courthouse. Created by the City of Stillwater, walking tour maps are available at the Historic Courthouse. Use the links below to print your own copy.
- South Hill Walking Tour Brochure
- Historic Downtown Walking Tour Brochure
- Cultural Landscape Walking Tour Brochure
Guided History Strolls
Step out the office for a day of history and fun team-building activities! Split into teams and race to see who can complete the Historic Courthouse Scavenger Hunt first, take a customized tour of this historic site (including the old 1900's County Jail), begin a self-guided walking tour of the South Hill neighborhood, picnic on the lawn and more!
The Historic Courthouse also rents meeting space for small and large groups. For more information, please click here.
Contact Us
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Washington County
Historic Courthouse
101 W. Pine St.
Stillwater, MN 55082
651-275-7075
EMAIL
Hours
May - October
Mon - Fri
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sat - Sun
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
November - April
Mon - Fri
9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sat
10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
*Closed on most County Holidays. Please call for details.