Discover history in Waseca County through its distinctive buildings. The Waseca County Courthouse was built in 1897 in the Richardsonian Romanesque Revival style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Bailey House dates back to 1868 and is one of the county’s oldest houses. Together, the house and courthouse give you two distinct historical points of reference.
Art and Exhibitions
The Waseca Art Center offers a different cultural perspective. An exhibition is held in each of its two gallery spaces every six weeks. If you want to plan your visit around a particular show, check in advance which exhibition falls within your travel dates. The exhibitions add a recurring art event to your exploration of the historic buildings.
Festivals with Different Character
The Waseca County Free Fair takes place every July and features attractions, rides, live music and livestock shows. If you’re planning your trip around the fair, check the specific event dates before arranging your stay.
The Waseca Sleigh & Cutter Festival offers a different experience, with parades, horses, community celebrations and winter activities. This distinction can help you choose the right season: the fair returns every July, while the festival features winter activities.
Parks, Forest and Trails
The Waseca County park system encompasses 534.5 acres, most of which is undeveloped woodland. At the city level, Waseca maintains about 200 acres of parkland and approximately 9.2 miles of paved trails. If you’re planning time outdoors, you can choose between mostly undeveloped woodland and paved trails in the city. The acreage figures describe the extent of the parkland, while the mileage figure refers to the length of paved trails.
Maplewood Park on Clear Lake is one of the last remaining forested areas of the Big Woods, which once covered southern Minnesota. The contrast between the former extent of these forests and what remains today makes the park a striking example of the landscape. It also has a double-width concrete boat ramp with a swimming dock and an 84-foot accessible fishing pier.
More Outdoor Experiences
You can reach Waseca Water Park by car, bus, bicycle or on foot. For a different perspective, visit Pleasant Grove Pizza Farm: visitors can walk through the prairie and see farm animals, and there is live music on select evenings. If you’re interested in landscapes and animals, you can enjoy both in one place. If you’d also like to plan for the music, check which evenings it takes place.
Discover more destinations: Waseca, Rock, Watonwan County, Anoka, Wright County, Morrison, Kandiyohi County, Pennington County.
For the broader travel overview: Minnesota.
