Goodhue County Historical Society

Free Family Fun Day: New Year's Traditions
2026-01-10 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Happy New Year! How do people around the world celebrate the start of a new year? Come find out at Free Family Fun Day! Make your own resolutions, create a unique snowflake craft, and more!

Admission is free for everyone, thanks to our sponsor!

Free Family Fun Day: Holidays!
2025-12-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Happy Holidays from GCHS! Join us for an afternoon of fun activities as we learn about different holidays celebrated in Goodhue County and around the world. Highlights include decorating cookies, making a snowman craft, visiting with Santa, and more! All are welcome to join our Community Show & Tell by bringing a special ornament to display during the event. Admission is free thanks to our sponsor, Sturdiwheat!
GCHS is also collecting winter items for the local Girl Scouts’ Mitten Tree Project! Bring a donation and place it on the tree for local families!

History Break: Dakota Language Program
2025-11-19 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Join Dacia Lussier, Dakota Language Specialist, for a History Break about Prairie Island’s efforts to revitalize the Dakota language in their community!

Nape-kičhiyuzapi,
Wašiču ia Dacia Lussier emakíayapi, Dakota ia Oyáte aš’a win emakiyapi ye. Oyáte mitháwa kiŋ Bdéwakaŋtunwaŋ k’a Wakpekute ewíčhakiyapi. Tiŋta Wita oyaŋke hečhiya taŋhaŋ wahi.
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Greetings,
My name is Dacia Lussier, my Dakota name is Oyate as’a win which means the Nation shouts at woman. My people are the Bdéwakaŋtunwaŋ and Wakpekute. I am from the Prairie Island community.

The Dakota language is flourishing. The assimilation policies of Native American boarding schools and United States government and the ensuing decades had nearly eradicated our distinctive and sacred language, as American influence encroached upon our ancestral lands. Nevertheless, we have persevered, and I am delighted to announce that the Dakota language is now thriving throughout all Oceti Sakowin communities, owing to the tireless efforts of language warriors who have committed themselves to learning and preserving it.

Free Family Fun Day: National Native American Heritage Month
2025-11-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Did you know that November is National Native American Heritage Month? Next month we are excited to celebrate and learn with the Native American Student Association (NASA) from Red Wing High School during our Free Family Fun Day! Join us for activities including, star quilt coloring, a scavenger hunt, and story time!
About the Native American Student Association (NASA):
NASA is a student group at RWHS open to all students. We celebrate Native culture, develop leadership skills, and foster community growth through events, fundraisers, and partnerships. Our mission is to support Native American students academically and socially, while promoting cultural awareness in collaboration with RWHS, Prairie Island, and the Red Wing community. We look forward to sharing more about our group!

Admission is free for everyone thanks to our sponsor, Sturdiwheat!

Escape Room: Colvill's Quest- SOLD OUT
2025-10-30 17:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-29 17:00 - 21:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
This program is now SOLD OUT! Thank you for your support!
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Welcome to the Goodhue County Historical Society’s First Annual Escape Room! Sign up for a private hour-long session of 2-6 people, and solve the clues to find Colonel Colvill’s lost Civil War treasure! Tickets are $20 per person.
Time Slots:
Wednesday, October 29th

5 PM
6:30 PM
8 PM

Thursday, October 30th

5 PM
6:30 PM
8 PM

Celebrating 20 Years of Church Basement Ladies
2025-10-23 14:00 - 16:00 | United Lutheran Church, 628 W 5th Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Join us in celebrating 20 years of the beloved play Church Basement Ladies with the playwrights themselves–Red Wing’s own Jim Stowell and Jessica Zuehlke! Hear the story of how this beloved musical comedy was born—the inspiration, characters, humor, and heart that made it a national favorite!

What to Expect:

Entertaining stories from the creators
Refreshments
Plenty of laughter
A chance to share your own church kitchen memories: potlucks, coffee hours, and apron-clad ladies serving up comfort and community

Bring or wear your favorite apron to honor the ladies who inspired it. Don’t miss this special celebration of food, laughter, and fun, hosted at United Lutheran Church! Purchase tickets by Monday, October 20th by visiting the Goodhue County History Center or calling 651-388-6024. Proceeds from this event will support the Goodhue County Historical Society!
Sponsored by Musty-Barnhart Agency (MBA) Insurance Services

National Coming Out Day Celebration & History Harvest
2025-10-18 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Help GCHS preserve and tell LGBTQIA+ History in Goodhue County! All are welcome for this special event, which will feature light refreshments, a notes of support community collage, a queer memorial, and a special exhibit from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) about their Greater Minnesota Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA+ History Map.
We are seeking items related to Queer History in our county! Bring something to the event that tells YOUR story! Examples include photographs, clothing, art, political signs, and more. Not ready to part with your item? Donate a digital copy & take the original home! Plus, staff will be available to record your Coming Out Story for the museum’s archive. If you would prefer to tell your story privately, step into our un-closet & speak on our Pride Line phone.

Veterans Event
2025-10-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Join GCHS and the Red Wing American Legion Post #54 as we honor our local veterans. This event will feature a round table discussion with members of the Red Wing Legion and will highlight new oral history interviews in the museum’s collection. Between 2024 and 2025, twenty oral history interviews were completed in a collaboration between GCHS and Pier 55 Red Wing Area Seniors! At the event, we will showcase a video compilation of these interviews, ranging from veterans’ experiences to what life was like on the home front. All are welcome for this special event!

GCHS wants to preserve YOUR story! We are looking for veteran items from the Korean War to the present. Consider donating an item to GCHS collections. Not ready to part with your item? That’s okay! Staff will be available to digitize items during the event. Donate a digital copy and take the original home!

We will also collect voluntary donations at this event for the Red Wing Area Food Shelf. Please consider donating a much needed item:

Canned meats
Soup
Cereal
Non-Perishables
Monetary Donations

EVENT CANCELLED: Historic Bridges of Southeast Minnesota
2025-10-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
EVENT CANCELLED: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the speaker had to cancel his History Break presentation on October 15th. We apologize for any inconvenience. If you are interested in this topic, Steve Gardiner’s book, Historic Bridges of Southeast Minnesota is available in the museum gift shop.
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Minnesota is often called the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but it could also be called the Land of 20,000 Bridges. During the early days of the state, the Mississippi River and its many tributaries barred and disrupted transportation and commerce. To span these obstacles, communities battled to build and maintain bridges. Their efforts created a variety of bridge designs and purposes–from small hiking and biking bridges to concrete beams across rural rivers. Across the area, one can behold wonders like the beautiful Stone Arch Bridge, the La Crescent Swing Bridge, the Point Douglas Drawbridge, the elegant Winona Main Channel Bridge as well as other massive structures crossing the Mississippi. During the presentation, Steve Gardiner will share stories about these bridges and their impact on Southeast Minnesota.

About the Speaker: Steve Gardiner taught high school English and journalism for 38 years in Wyoming, Peru, and Montana. He was the 2008 Montana Teacher of the Year and holds a Doctorate of Education degree. He has published articles in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Christian Science Monitor, The Denver Post, PBS NewsHour, Educational Leadership, Phi Delta Kappan, Education Week, and many others. He published his books Historic Disasters in Southeast Minnesota (2022) and Historic Bridges of Southeast Minnesota (2023) with The History Press.

Free Family Fun Day: Halloween!
2025-10-11 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Come celebrate spooky season at the Goodhue County History Center! You are in for a treat with an afternoon of fun, family-friendly activities! Learn about Halloween traditions, make your own pumpkin lantern, and more. Costumes are encouraged and all kids will receive a goody bag to take home! Plus, join our Community Show-and-Tell by bringing a favorite Halloween photo to share! Best costume? Worst costume? We want to see it! Digital photos can be emailed to education@goodhistory.org and will be on display during the event.
This event is free for all, thanks to our sponsor, Sturdiwheat!

Oakwood Cemetery Walking Tour
2025-10-04 10:30 - 12:00 | Oakwood Cemetery, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
This tour is now SOLD OUT! Thank you for supporting local history!
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Explore Red Wing’s Oakwood Cemetery with GCHS and learn more about Red Wing’s past. Walk through one of the cemetery’s most historic sections as we visit the final resting place of some of the most notable names in Red Wing. You will also learn about Victorian mourning customs, tombstone symbolism, and what life was like for 19th century Red Wing residents.
Space is limited! Tickets are $15 and must be purchased through Red Wing Community Education: https://redwing.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/home/
If you have any questions, please contact the Community Ed office at 651-385-4565.

Back Alley Walking Tour
2025-09-27 10:00 - 11:30 | John Rich Park, 218 West Avenue, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
This tour is now SOLD OUT! Thank you for supporting local history!
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Discover the early history of downtown Red Wing by exploring its alleyways with GCHS! Look for remnants that tell a colorful story about this city’s past and learn how the downtown area has changed over time. Lace up your walking shoes and get to know the people and historic businesses behind today’s well-known buildings. This tour will begin at John Rich Park.
Space is limited! Tickets are $15 and must be purchased through Red Wing Community Education. Tickets can be purchased on their website beginning on September 2nd: https://redwing.cr3.rschooltoday.com/public/home/
If you have any questions, please contact the Community Ed office at 651-385-4565.

History Break: Stories of a Mississippi Riverboat Captain
2025-09-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Born in St. Louis, the home state of Sam Clemens, T.S. Eliot, and Tennessee Williams, Lee Hendrix was enthralled by the Mississippi River at a young age. In 1972, he boarded his first towboat as a deckhand, slinging mops and lifting heavy rigging, and by 1976 he achieved his first license. Over the course of his career, Lee has worked as an educator, led canoe trips and river-clean ups, worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and piloted riverboats along the Mississippi River and other rivers across the United States. Lee earned a First-Class Pilot License for 2,300 miles of river during his time piloting the DELTA, MISSISSIPPI and AMERICAN QUEEN. He also served as both Pilot and Captain of the MV MISSISSIPPI, the largest river towboat in the world. Today, Lee lives in Lake City and is considered a “riverlorian,” having written several published stories and essays about the river. Join us for a History Break where he discusses his 51 years working along the Mississippi River and his book, Peep Light: Stories of a Mississippi River Boat Captain.

Books will be available to purchase after the event!

Free Family Fun Day: Back to School
2025-09-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Image from GCHS Collection: 1956, Frontenac School in Florence Township

Celebrate back to school season and learn what it was like to attend school in a one room schoolhouse Explore the museum’s schoolroom and enjoy a variety of school-themed activities for all ages! Museum admission is free for everyone from 12 PM-3 PM thanks to our sponsor, Sturdiwheat!

Historic Home Tour
2025-09-10 08:00 - 17:00 | MN
Ticket-Historic Home Tour

https://app.squareup.com/dashboard/items/library/v1/LWWFCXKZVIZX5TD7D4U5C4NH?searchTerm=historic%20home

History Break- Belva Lockwood: Uncovering an Overlooked Legend and Her Buried Homeland
2025-08-13 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Please join us for a History Break with Anderson Center Artist-In-Residence Sonia Beltz!
How do you discover a history that has been buried? Belva Lockwood was a 19th-century suffragist, a two-time presidential candidate, and the first female lawyer admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court. But when she left her home behind to pursue destiny, she did so with little remember of the Western New York landscape that raised her. Nearly two centuries later, I discovered Belva as a lonely, homesick college student and embarked on a quest to uncover the secrets and sensations of Belva’s oft-forgotten childhood. In this presentation, I’ll discuss the process of discovering and researching this seminal but overlooked figure of American history and how this work intersects with my own childhood experiences.

About Sonia: Sonia Beltz is a writer from Lockport, New York. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota’s MFA in Creative Writing, where she recently defended her thesis in creative nonfiction; in the fall, Sonia will begin a PhD in early modern literature at Loyola University Chicago. Her work centers themes of history, place, and identity set across the backdrop of the Western New York landscape she once called home. She currently lives in Minneapolis, and can usually be found deep in a niche historical wormhole.

Goodhue County Fair
2025-08-06 - 2025-08-09 | Goodhue County Fair, 44279 County 6 Blvd, Zumbrota, MN, 55992, United States
Come visit GCHS at the Goodhue County Fair from Wednesday, August 6th to Saturday, August 9th! Explore an old one room schoolhouse and participate in a variety of activities for all ages! Special guests this year include the Zumbrota Area Historical Society on Friday, August 8th. See the full fair schedule and admission prices here: https://www.goodhuecountyfair.com/
GCHS Schedule:
Wednesday, August 6th – Day Care Day
9 AM-11 AM Storytime & Cow Craft
11 AM-1 PM Fossil Dig Boxes
1 PM-3 PM Storytime & Cow Craft
3 PM-5 PM Fossil Dig Boxes

Thursday, August 7th – Goodhue County Ag Day
Noon-2 PM Schoolhouse Craft
2 PM-3 PM Fossil Dig Boxes
3 PM-5 PM Trivia in the Schoolhouse

Friday, August 8th – Senior Citizen Day
12 PM-4 PM Demonstration or Display from the Zumbrota Area Historical Society
12 PM-4 PM Historic Games on the lawn

Saturday, August 9th- Final Fun Day
9 AM-12 PM Trivia
9 AM-12 PM Historic Games on the lawn

Churches of Red Wing Tour
2025-07-24 10:00 - 11:30 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
This tour is now SOLD OUT! Thank you for supporting local history!
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Board the Red Wing Trolley at the Goodhue County History Center and embark on a special tour of the churches of Red Wing, including stops at seven downtown churches! Journey through time as your tour guide highlights a century of faith in Red Wing from 1850 to1950. You will enjoy beautiful architecture, learn the origin story of each church, and get a chance to explore the interior of many of these churches.

The tour will include: Church of St. Joseph, St. John’s Lutheran Church, First United Methodist Church, Christ Episcopal Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, United Lutheran Church, and First Lutheran Church.

Space is limited! Tickets are $25 each and must be purchased through Red Wing Community Education. Register online and call the Community Education office with any questions at 651-385-4565.

History Break: Red Wing YMCA
2025-07-16 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Join us for an exciting History Break where Bryan Soper, CEO, will speak about the history of our Red Wing Family YMCA and the YMCA of the USA.

About Bryan: “I have been the CEO for the Red Wing Family YMCA since 2021. I have been working in the YMCA for over 35 years across the YMCA movement. I began my YMCA journey as a camp counselor in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and after graduating from UW-STOUT I worked with YMCA’s in Phoenix, Alabama, the Twin Cities and Nashville before coming to Red Wing. Our family lives in Red Wing and both our kids have now graduated from Red Wing High School.”

Free Family Fun Day & Ice Cream Social
2025-07-12 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Join GCHS and The Cat’s Meow for our Free Family Fun Day and Ice Cream Social! Admission is free for everyone from 12 PM-3 PM. This event is sponsored by Sturdiwheat!
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Who or what is The Cat’s Meow, you ask?

“We are The Cat’s Meow. A group of women who are obsessed with the role of American women during World War two. Our goal is to bring to life what women did and what a day in the life was like with a display of original uniforms, and artifacts! You will be able to interact, ask questions, and learn all about girl power!”

Lawn Games with the Red Wing Public Library
2025-06-24 09:30 - 11:00 | Central Park, Downtown Red Wing, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Join the Red Wing Public Library and GCHS for a morning of lawn games at Central Park! Try your hand at a historic game and play other popular outdoor games!

History Break: Abolitionists of Southeast Minnesota
2025-06-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to the impending snow storm on March 19th, our History Break with Sara Holger has been postponed. Sara will be joining us for our June History Break instead.
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In the decades leading up to the US Civil War, abolitionists from eastern states migrated westward to thwart the expansion of slavery into the “free” territory. Abolitionists were among the early American settlers arriving in Minnesota in the 1850s. Some of these abolitionists were radical and were involved in the Underground Railroad prior to settling here. Local naturalist, Sara Holger, will share stories she has gathered through oral history interviews with descendants of abolitionists who called southeast Minnesota home before slavery was abolished in America.

Free Family Fun Day: Dairy Month
2025-06-14 12:00 - 15:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Did you know that June is National Dairy Month? Join GCHS and the Goodhue County Dairy Princesses for a dairy-themed afternoon of fun activities! Admission is free for everyone from 12 PM- 3 PM. This event is sponsored by Sturdiwheat!

MNHS Presentation: Greater Minnesota 2SLGBTQIA+ History Map
2025-06-13 16:00 - 18:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
June is Pride Month, and all are welcome for a special presentation from the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) to learn about and celebrate Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA+ history! Join MNHS staff Jamie Kherbaoui and Lizzie Ehrenhalt, alongside interns Leila Stallone, Luis Valderrama, and Ulysses Swanson for a presentation about their project to map 2SLGBTQIA+ history in Greater Minnesota. Light refreshments will be served!

About the Project: The Greater Minnesota Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ History Map is a participatory storytelling project facilitated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ stories have always been community history. But their diversity—racial, topical, and geographical—has not always been visible in the books, movies, and media that show the world who we are, and where we come from. This map aims to correct these absences by highlighting overlooked Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ sites, people, and themes. Focusing on Greater Minnesota, the map reveals that queer history has unfolded in every corner of the state, from Worthington to the Boundary Waters.

Event Schedule:
4 PM-5 PM Open House

Digitization station: Bring your photographs, programs, and more to receive a digital copy
Explore free resources related to Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA+ History
Use IPads to interact with the digital StoryMap

5 PM-6 PM

Presentation
Audience Q&A

MNHS Map Team

Find Our Fairy House!
2025-06-01 - 2025-10-01 | MN
Magic is returning to Red Wing this summer and GCHS is joining in on the fun! Take a look around downtown and see if you can spot our fairy house… or school.

Fairies going to school in Red Wing are actually learning in a historic spot! Did you know that the first schoolhouse in Goodhue County opened in 1855 at 4th Street and East Avenue? Each one room schoolhouse across the county was considered its own district, so this school was called “District 1.” At one point there were 169 school districts across Goodhue County! The last one to close was Welch Valley School in Vasa Township in 1970. Today there are 12 school districts in the county.

Want to learn more? Come to the Goodhue County History Center and explore our rural schoolroom!

And check out the Red Wing Downtown Magic website for more information about this magical time of year and the 2025 Fairy Fest : https://magicmapredwing.my.canva.site/

Goodhue County History Detective
2025-06-01 - 2025-08-30 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Ages 14 & Under

This summer, explore local history through a county-wide scavenger hunt! Put on your detective cap and visit participating museums to complete tasks and receive a stamp. Once you collect them all, turn in your booklet at the Goodhue County History Center in Red Wing to receive a prize!

Participating Museums:

Cannon Falls Area Historical Society
Goodhue Area Historical Society
Goodhue County Historical Society
Zumbrota Area Historical Society

Pick up your free History Detective booklet at any participating museum. Please note- some museums may have an admission charge. Happy sleuthing!

History Break: Mississippi Dialogues Public Art Project
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Goodhue County History Center, 1166 Oak Street, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
Mississippi Dialogues Public Art Project:
Mississippi Dialogues is a public art collaboration to create a series of panels Indigenizing a map of the Mississippi River. Independent cartographer and Citizen Potawatomi tribal member Margaret Pearce will present about her work collaborating with Prairie Island Tribal Historic Preservation to create a panel for installation in Red Wing, through interviews, archival research, historical maps, and design.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Margaret Pearce is a cartographer and Citizen Potawatomi tribal member currently living in Maine. She is visiting the Anderson Center for a public artist residency in May 2025. Pearce brings years of experience collaborating with Indigenous experts on cartographic art projects. She holds a Ph.D. in geography and was a professor of geography for 15 years before making the move to independent artist. She received a Guggenheim fellowship in 2023 to support her work on the Mississippi Dialogues project.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Rogers

Walk the Historic Jordan Creek
2025-05-17 13:00 - 14:30 | Red Wing City Hall, 315 W 4th St, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
1:00 tour is now SOLD OUT. Thank you for supporting local history programs!
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Join GCHS staff on a walking tour of downtown Red Wing, following the historic route of the Jordan Creek. This waterway once divided the downtown area before being driven underground, where it still flows today. Tours will start outside of City Hall and explore the history of the Jordan and some of the historic buildings built on top of it, before ending at Levee Park. Put on your walking shoes and join us as we follow the Jordan’s path to the Mississippi River. Space is limited- tickets are $15 each and must be purchased through Red Wing Community Education. Please use the link below to register and any questions can be directed to Red Wing Community Education at 651-385-4565.

Walk the Historic Jordan Creek
2025-05-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Red Wing City Hall, 315 W 4th St, Red Wing, MN, 55066, United States
10 AM TOUR IS NOW SOLD OUT
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Join GCHS staff on a walking tour of downtown Red Wing, following the historic route of the Jordan Creek. This waterway once divided the downtown area before being driven underground, where it still flows today. Tours will start outside of City Hall and explore the history of the Jordan and some of the historic buildings built on top of it, before ending at Levee Park. Put on your walking shoes and join us as we follow the Jordan’s path to the Mississippi River. Space is limited- tickets are $15 each and must be purchased through Red Wing Community Education. Please use the link below to register and any questions can be directed to Red Wing Community Education at 651-385-4565.
