Chisago
City | Lindström | Center
City | Scandia | Shafer | Taylors
Falls | Almelund | North
BranchChisago
City | Lindström | Center
City | Scandia | Shafer | Taylors
Falls | Almelund | North
Branch• Vilhelm Moberg Statue/Vilhelm Moberg Park - Dedicated September 7, 1996. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia Royal Visit, September 13, 1996. Seasonal bathrooms. Sculptor: Ian Dudley, Lindstöm, MN, originally from Australia.
• Vilhelm Moberg’s Lodging, 1948 visit - Moberg stayed in the Melander home hotel while doing research for his four-part Emigrant novels. On the N.E. corner of Old Towne Road and Lake Ave. 29225 Old Towne Road. Private, view from street.
• Zion Ev. Lutheran Church organized May, 1874. Open all year. 1-1/4 miles south of Highway 8 on Old Towne Road. 28005 Old Towne Road. Ph: 651- 257-2713.
• WineHaven Winery 
10020 Deer Garden Ln, Chisago City, MN 55013, their Honeywine presented to
Their Majesties of Sweden. National and International Awards.
• Old Swedish Barn Quilt Trail
The Chisago Lakes Community Foundation's "Life is GREAT on Highway 8" initiative (https://www.facebook.com/LifeIsGreatOnHighway8),
local artists have painted Swedish Barn Quilt Designs along U.S. Hwy. 8 from
Chisago City to Taylors Falls. Self-guided brochure for touring. Find them all!
Info: www.clac-foundation.com/news-events/swedish-barn-quilt-trail/
•
Karl Oskar and Kristina Statue - Replica of the original statue in
Karlshamn, Sweden. Karl Oskar Nilsson and his wife Kristina
are ficticious characters in the Moberg novels. Kristina is looking
back to her homeland of Sweden and Karl Oskar is looking forward to
the new land, "Amerika!" Boulder from Duvemåla (Småland)
Sweden. Visit 'The Chisago County Press' newspaper office and view
the desk Vilhelm Moberg used in 1948. Ted Norelius, editor at the
time, became good friends with Moberg. Ted was the grandson of Erik Norelius
from Hassela, Sweden.
• Per Andersson, Daniel Lindström, Erik Norelius and Nellie Gustafson Statues - In 2013, sculptor, Ian Dudley, Lindström revealed four statues to honor Swedish pioneers. First, Nellie Gustafson, a mid-wife from Skåne, a courageous Swedish immigrant woman who came to the area. Her mid-wife kit is at the Chisago County Historical Society. Next, Per Andersson (Joris-Pelle Andersson), Per's half-brother Daniel Lindström and Erik Norelius, all from Hassela, Sweden. Per Andersson arrived in Taylors Falls, MN with 16 of the 100 Swedes from Hassela on April 23, 1851. A real-life Karl Oskar Nilsson. Nellie's statue is at the Chisago Lakes Library on U.S. Hwy. 8. The men are located on the north side of U.S. Hwy. 8 across from the Karl Oskar & Kristina Statue.(651) 257-1177.
• Swedish Coffee Pot Water Tower - Main St. -
1908 water tower converted to a Swedish Coffee Pot in 1992, (cost of $18,650.00).
Donated by Marlene Smith, Plastic Products Co. Inc., "Välkommen till
Lindström...Where the Kaffe's Always On!"
• Marlene Smith Statue,
by Ian Dudley, 2016, across from Gustaf's Gallery honoring Marlene
Smith and her historic preservation of Chisago County. Tack Marlene!
• Painted Swedish Flag 
on main street for Their Majesties Royal Visit
on September 13, 1996. Also note the Emigrant Mural on the west side of the
Bakery bldg., Home of the Scandinavian Donut...a must stop.
• Fridhem, “Home of Peace.
•
1898 tourist home. 1911, the home of
Frank A. Larson, editor of the Svensk Amerikanska Tribunen published
in Chicago, IL. On Nat'l.Reg. of Historic Places. 12625 Newell Ave.
• Chisago County Historical Soc. -
12795 Lake Blvd., Main St. Lindström. County Museum displays artifacts and research.
www.chisagocountyhistory.org Ph: 651-257-5310.
• Allemansrätt Swedish Heritage and Wilderness Park/Anderson House - Translation: Swedish right to roam in the wilderness with a "Do Not Disturb or Destroy Nature" philosophy. The City of Lindström purchased 90 acres of wilderness on Bull Lake from the Ted and Violet Norelius estate, Concordia University, and the Eugene Anderson Family properties (64 acres/homesteaded in the 1800s). Wooded areas much the same as when the Swedish emigrants came to the Chisago Lakes area. Contact:City of Lindström: 651-257-0620.
• Trinity English Ev. Lutheran Church - Organized 1901 as the first English speaking congregation fo this Swedish area. 651-257-5129
• c. 1890 Gustaf Anderson House - Gustaf came from Stockholm in
1864. Participated in the Montana Gold Rush and struck it rich! He
was known as "Guldgubben" (The Old Gold Man) On National
Register of Historic Places. 13045 Lake Blvd., Main St, Now Gustaf's on Main Eatery!
• Gustaf's on Main Eatery -Swedish Meatballs every Thursday by reservation. Swedish Pancakes everyday. Main St. 651-263-0737
• Gustaf's Gallery - Swedish Art and Gifts, Main St. www.gustafsupnorthgallery.com 651-257-1821.
• PAMDAY - Make it a creative day! Art supplies, yarn and games. Main St. in Gustaf's Gallary. 651-257-6199.
• C.A. Victor House Charles A. Victor, from Småland, Sweden. Moved to Lindström in 1888, and in 1898 established the Medborgaren, "The Citizen," the first Chisago County Swedish language newspaper. Its circulation in the County was greater than the English version newspapers. On National Register of Historic Places. 30495 Park Street.
• Nya Duvemåla (New Dove's Home) In 1948, Moberg was inspired by this old
house and created Karl Oskar & Kristina's fictitious home where they would live
their final days. Kristina named it Nya Duvemåla after her home, Duvemåla, in
Småland. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited, Sept. 13, 1996. Tours,
651-253-3373, 651-257-5063 or 651-257-1177. Directions: From Hwy. 8, South on Cty.
Road 25, East on Glader Blvd. to Kichi-Saga Park. Bus parking. The Karl Oskar
House was moved from original site 1/4 mile West to Kichi-Saga Park November,
1995. Dedicated June, 1996. Boulder from Carl-Werner Pettersson, Åseda
(Småland), Sweden, transported to site via Volvo, Sweden, May, 1996.
• Friends of The Karl Oskar House - Contact: 651-253-3373
• Glader Cemetery - Oldest Swedish pioneer cemetery in Minnesota. Karl Oskar Nilsson and Kristina are fictionally buried here. Swedish Royal Visit on September 13, 1996. 1/8 mile east of Kichi-Saga Park on Glader Blvd. Parking on roadside.
• The Nelson Century Farm -
• The Swedish Inn - 651-257-2571. 12678 Lake Blvd., Full Service menu.
• Founder's Monument 
Erik Ulrik Norberg spent the winter of 1850
here before guiding the Per Andersson group to Chisago Lake (Kichi-
Saga) to establish Center City. Norberg Monument located in the parking
lot of The Swedish Village Mall, Andrews Ave., on U.S. Hwy. 8.
•
Chisago Lake Ev. Lutheran Church - Organized May 12, 1854. Current
structure built 1889. In 2003, Eric Carlisle hand-painted Sancturary for 150th
Anniversary. See Heritage Room, Swedish Historical Tapestry, Pioneer Cemetery,
Per Berg's Monument marking the site of the log barn where the first 100 Swedes
organized. 75th Anniversary obelisk on the West lawn. Tours by appt.,
651-257-6300, 651-257-4773. Fee. Open all year.
1 Summit Avenue. 1/4 north of Hwy. 8 on Cty. Rd. 9
• Furaby School
, north of Center City on county roads 12 & 20. - Furuby is a village in Smaland, Sweden.
Many families settled here in Chisago County from Furuby. Private land, no trespassing, view from your car. Near the intersection of Cty. Rd. 12 and Cty. Rd. 20 (Furuby Ave.)
• Government Center Court House - The first County Seat was moved from Taylors Falls in the 1860s to Center City because the roads "diverged to every part of the County from Center City." View Chisago County Historical Society exhibits in the lobby. Tour information, 651- 257-1300. 313 North Main Street.
• Center City Historic District on Summit Avenue - Built and lived in by Swedish immigrant first and second generation families overlooking North Center Lake. Private Homes, view from street.
• Chisago Lake...Kichi-Saga...The Big Lake...Swede Lake Native American Ojibwe/Chippewa, word meaning "Fair and
Lovely Waters." Called "Buried Eagle Lake" by explorer J. Nicollet. Also known as "Swede Lake" by the first
European settlers, and called "Chisago Lake" by W.H.C. Folsom from Taylors Falls. It was one large connected
lake before the railroad split the lake into five separate lakes. Today known as North Center Lake, South
Center Lake in Center City. North Lindström Lake, South Lindström Lake in Lindström, and Chisago Lake in Chisago City.
• Hazelden - Betty Ford Foundation Renowned rehabilitation center for chemical dependency. Started in 1949. Intersection of Hwy. 8 and Pleasant Valley Road, follow signs. Not open to the public, pre-arranged tours are available, 651-213-4264. Website: www.hazelden.org
• Gammelgården Museum - A collection of Swedish log buildings, the 1856 Lutheran Church, Butik, Visitor Center, Swedish Classes and more. Charge for tours. Located 1 mile south of Hwy. 97 and Washington Cty. #3 intersection. Follow signs. 651-433-5053. Website: gammelgardenmuseum.org
• Elim Lutheran Church - First known as Marine Mills Country Church. Organized May 19, 1854. Open all year. 651-433-2723.
• Hay Lake School Museum, Swedish Log House and Historical 1900 Monument. Honors the first families that arrived in Scandia in 1850. Tours, 651-433-4014. One mile South of Gammelgården Museum on Cty. Rd. 3.
• Jacob Pettersson House - From Dädesjö, Småland.
Came to America in 1853. Was an entrepreneur and owner of the
Jacob Peterson General Mercantile - the 2 story yellow
building. Private Home, view from road. 30405 Ridgewood Ave.
•c. 1869 Lars J. Thorsander House (Torsås Bondegård) - Country
Bed & Breakfast since 1982. Immigrants from Östra Torsås Parish,
Småland. Moberg visited this house in 1948 to deliver a wedding
gift to Lois Anderson Barott. Original 1869 first home (log) still on property. Barn wood
from the old Methodist Church Livery Stable, Center City,
rebuilt on the original stone foundation 1938. 651-257-4773.
website: www.countrybedandbreakfast.us Private Home,
view from road.
Address: 17038. 320th St., Shafer, MN - US Hwy. 8 and Cty. Rd. #21 intersection. North on
#21 1.8 miles to Ranch Trail/320th St. (gravel). West 1 mile on
Ranch Tr. to 320th St. ~Välkommen till alla~
• Maklin Bike Shop 
- Main Street, Shafer. Sales, Service and Gear.
www.maklinbikeshop.com 651-247-8614.
• The Ahlstrand Century Farm - Johan Pele Anderson bought the 120 acres in 1877. He changed the family name to Ahlstrand. His son, August J. Ahlstrand took over the farm in 1913. His son Clarence O. Ahlstrand took possession of the farm in 1962. His son, Louis D. Ahlstrand, took over in 2016 and is the current owner. The farm was mostly dairy until 1984 when the last cows were sold. Now it is a crop farm. View from the road please: 33140 Redwing Avenue, Shafer MN 55074.
• Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours - Daily May to mid Oct.
Learn early history of the area from commentary and view
first hand what the immigrants saw when they arrived.
Historical markers. Group tours/reservations: 651-465-6315.
• Minnesota Interstate State Park - 
The lower boat landing
used by immigrants, world famous glacial potholes, hiking
trails, camping and Visitor Center. Main Street Taylors Falls, artist Christopher Young painted a
mural of The Devil's Chair on the side of a building to honor the historic natural rock formation that fell
down into the St. Croix River. Info, 651-465-5711.
• 1855 W.H.C. Folsom House Museum - On the Nat'l
Reg. of Historic Places, a MN Historical Society site, the
Folsom House sits among other homes in the Angel Hill Dist.
Mr. Folsom was influential in the lumbering business, establishment
of Taylors Falls and Chisago County. He helped to draft
the MN Constitution and served as a State Legislator. He owned
a great deal of land which immigrants rented. Tours: Memorial
Day weekend through early October (Fri., Sat., Sun., and holidays),
1-4 p.m. on the hour. 272 W. Government St., $6 Adults,
$5 Students & Vets, $4 kids 6-17, kids under 5 and MN & TF
Historial Society members free. Group tours available by appt.
651-465-3125. Folsom House Facebook page.
Minnesota State Historical Society: www.mnhs.org/places/index.htm
• Taylors Falls Historical Society Visitor Center - Located in the lower level of the Taylors Falls Memorial Community Center. Open Memorial Day- Labor Day from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. (Saturday and Sunday). 651-465-0443
• c. 1854 Munch/Roos House - Oscar Roos, one of Minnesota's earliest Swedish settlers, was a dealer in private loans who aided hundreds of immigrant families to establish themselves. Private home, view from street. 190 Second St., east of Bench Street (Main St.). National Register of Historic Places.
• 1866 Hamilton House - Samuel Hamilton - State Immigrant Agent who helped many Swedish immigrants, providing temporary housing for new arrivals. Private home, view from street. 431 Bench St. (Main St.).
• Stone Retaining Walls - Located behind the houses on the west side of Bench Street (Main Street), and in the Angel Hill Historic District. Built by Swedish immigrants in the Swedish tradition - no mortar. Private homes, view from street.
• First Ev. (Swedish) Lutheran Church - Organized in 1860. Current structure built in 1903. History Room. Information: 651-465-5265. Location: 561 Chestnut Street.
• The Emigrant Trail
- Drive Cty. Rd. 37 West from
Taylors Falls to Center City 7.2 mi. The first Emigrant Trail
to the "Big Lake" Kichi-Saga area. Old farms, barns, scenic
drive, paved road. Trailhead sign on City Hall lawn.
• Amador Heritage Center
- Pre-1880s Scandinavian log structures,
1910 Brick 2 room school with local history. Open Sun. 1-4 p.m. Mid June to Sept. Tours: 651-
269-3580. Donation. 2019 is the 26th Almelund Apple Festival - 3rd Sun. in
Sept., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 651-433-5053
•Immanuel Lutheran Church
- Swedish Congregation organized in 1887. Historic cemetery. Information, 651-583-2340.
•Almelund Mercantile & Antiques
- Swedish Treasures and goodies! 15790 Maple Ln. Coffee too! Susan Sandberg, 651-583-3696.
• Wild River State Park - Early settlers lived along the Sunrise and St. Croix Rivers on land that would become part of the Park - including Ola & Judith Nelson (emigrated from Sweden 1869). The Nelsons' great-grandchild Senator Jerald Anderson authored the Park bill in the 1970s. Intersection of U.S. Hwy. 95 and Cty. Road #12. North on Cty. Road #12. See signs. Info: 651-583-2125.
• Almelund Threshing Show Site: Historic Chisago County Court House, Shafer Township Clover Blossom School House at the Almelund Threshing Show Site (see Aug. events for info). Address: 17760 St. Croix Tr., Taylors Falls, MN 55084. East of Almelund, Hwy. 95. 651-583-2083.
1869 as the tracks and railroad bed were being constructed.
Settled mostly by New Englanders, (who moved from
Amador and Sunrise), and a few Germans and
Scandinavians. By 1900, its dominating characteristic was
Swedish, and it was the hub of the potato belt along the
rail line.• Trinity Lutheran Church - Organized May 12, 1887. Current location: 38460 Lincoln Tr. (County Road 14) Original site at 6486 Elm St. Info: 651- 674-7047.
• Magnison Century Farm
(address: 9383 - 375th St.) Alfred and Swen emigrated
from Jeppahem, Östra Torsås, Småland, Sweden. Purchased 830 acres
from the U.S. Government in 1885. Now farmed by 3rd & 4th generation members.
Original house. Note the 40 ft. x 136 ft. barn built in 1914 with wood
from the property.
• Olson Century Farm (address: 39853 Forest Blvd.) Frank emigrated from Almeboda (Småland), Sweden in 1879. Purchased 40 acres originally, and more were purchased over the years to reach 320. The present owner is 5th generation and sons are the 6th generation now living on the homestead.
• Fish Lake Lutheran Church - 7 miles West of North Branch. Watch for Cedar Crest Trail. Organized 1867. Land acquired from the Burlington Northern R.R., which encouraged Swedish immigration. Interior Swedish painted walls and ceiling. Original 1905 mural. Hultgren and Lane Tracker Organ. Tours: 651-674-4252, donation.