Village of Yesteryear
In 1962, the Society was offered the Saco Church, located seven miles southwest of Owatonna. With support from the Steele County Agricultural Society, the Society leased land on the southeast corner of the Steele County Fairgrounds to create a pioneer village.
The original layout was inspired by downtown Owatonna and its once circular Central Park. The Village of Yesteryear was born—and has continued to grow with historic buildings moved to the site and new museum buildings constructed over the years.
Dunnell House
Built in 1868-69 by Mark Hill Dunnell, a native of Maine, the Italianate-style, 11-room house features a belvedere, often called a Widow’s Watch, from its common use on the east coast—wives could watch for their husband’s ship, a ship that often might not return. Congressman Dunnell served three years as Minnesota Superintendent of Schools and then 14 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, the only U.S. congressman from Owatonna. It has period furnishings throughout provided by residents of Steele County and reveals the story of a most influential Minnesota family.