Washington County

Barn Quilt Trail

Barn Quilt Tours

Spend the day touring the beautiful communities of Scandia, Marine on St. Croix, and the Town of May. 

Going on the 16-mile tour is great for:

- full-day destination events

- half-day experiences

- get-a-way trips for seniors at assisted living facilities 

   or nursing homes

- field trips for school groups; homeschool groups

   and co-ops; and 4-H clubs

- day trips for adults in memory-care programs

- church groups of all ages - from youth to seniors              ​  Olivia conducting a tour for                                                                                                                 seniors from a nursing home in

                                                                                                                            June 2015.

Enhance the tour with stops at historical sites on or near the Barn Quilt Trail including:

- Gammelgarden Museum

- Hay Lake School and Erickson Log Home

- Marine Mill (within walking distance of the Birds in the Air barn quilt)

- Stone House Museum (a short driving distance from the Birds in the Air barn quilt)

                                                          Seniors listening to "The Quiltmaker's Gift" - the story

                                                          from which the barn quilt patterns are taken. 

​

       Seniors enjoying a picnic in Burris Park

       in downtown Marine on St. Croix.

Links

- Bike Routes through Scandia, Marine on St. Croix, and Town of May

- Elim Lutheran Church - First known as Marine Mills Country Church. Organized on May 19, 1854. Open all year. History room and tours by appointment. 651-433-2723.

- Gammelgarden Museum - A collection of Swedish log buildings, the 1856 Lutheran Church, Scandia Butik, Visitor Center, Swedish classes, and special events. Guided tours are available. 651-433- 5053. 

- Hay Lake School Museum, Erickson Log Home and Historical 1900 Monument. Honors the first families that arrived in Scandia in 1850. Tours available. 651-433-4014. 

- Lions Park at Hay Lake - picnic tables under a covered shelter, a grill, satellite (bathroom), and trails are available.

- Marine Community Library - As a partnership between citizens, Washington County, and the City of Marine, the library combines access to books and technology with a comfortable setting and a committed volunteer staff. 

- Marine Mill - This was the location of Minnesota's first commercial sawmill which operated from 1839 to 1895. Visitors can explore the remains of the stone foundations, and through interpretive signs, learn about the history of this once-active industrial site. 

- Marine on St. Croix City Page - Marine on St. Croix is located along the scenic St. Croix River, 12 miles north of Stillwater, and 15 miles south of Taylors Falls. The Village Hall, the community library, the Lutheran Church on the hill, the Stone House Museum, the Mill Site, the Fire Hall (built entirely by volunteer labor) are all sources of pride to the 700 or so residents of Marine. Marine on St. Croix, founded as Marine Mills in 1839, was the site of the first commercial sawmill along the St. Croix River. 

- Parks in Scandia - includes existing and undeveloped parks as well as links to nearby county, regional, and state parks.

- Scandia City Page - Scandia is a rural community located in northern Washington County, at the edge of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.  The community has a rich history as the first Swedish immigrants to Minnesota settled there.  

- Stonehouse Museum - Built in 1872 by Swedish stonemason, Gustav Carlson, the museum is constructed of local sandstone. It is recorded in the Library of Congress as “an outstanding example of the Swedish stonework of early Minnesota settlers.” Originally the building served as the Marine Town Hall and jail. Remnants of those days remain in the building. Scribbled messages of those jailed can still be seen on one wall.

- Swedish Circle Tour - The Swedish Circle is the name given to the eight towns of Chisago City, Lindström, Center City, Shafer, Scandia, Taylors Falls, Almelund, and North Branch. The circle of communities shares a rich Swedish heritage in many ways. The self-guided tour features the Swedish sites from the 1996 Swedish Immigration Jubilee celebration. 

- Town of May Page - The Town of May is located in the northeastern portion of Washington County.  The Town was organized in 1893.  A year later, the town hall was built and the first supervisors elected.  The Town was named after Morgan May, an English immigrant who eventually became one of the more prosperous farmers in the Town.  The first census in 1905 showed a total population of 761. 

- William O'Brien State Park - Provides a beautiful setting for recreation along the St. Croix River. Hiking trails wind through rolling, wooded hills. For anglers, the channels of the St. Croix have bass, walleye, northerns, and trout. The river is ideal for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and canoeing. It is also a migratory pathway that offers visitors an exciting diversity of sounds and sights. In the winter, there are opportunities for skiing and snowshoeing.

Tour van stopping by the Erickson Log Home

to see the "Peace and Plenty" barn quilt.