History & Heritage
Remnants of by-gone eras continue to live on in Chisago Lakes. Native American, French-Canadian, and most notably, Swedish. All have left their mark on the community. To the Ojibwa, who resided here long ago, this land was called “ki chi saga” meaning “fair and lovely waters”.
Originally home to the Dakota, Ojibwe, & Chippewa tribes the St. Croix River Valley changed dramatically around the 1850’s when Swedish immigrants came and settled in what we now call the Chisago Lakes area. The French-Canadian traders, who sighted the huge stone cross when traveling by river, named it “St. Croix” which means Holy Cross. Immortalized by author Vilhelm Moberg, the Swedish immigration story is captured in books he wrote about fictional characters Karl Oskar and Kristina. Visit historic monuments, walk along the Swedish Immigrant Trail, follow the bold and beautiful Swedish Barn Quilt Trail and enjoy the quiet beauty that drew settlers long ago.
Things to Do
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Almelund_Mercantile.jpg)
Almelund Mercantile
Almelund, MN 55012
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Threshing_Show.jpg)
Almelund Threshing Show
Taylors Falls,MN 55084
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Amador_Heritage_Center.jpg)
Amador Heritage Center
Almelund, MN 55012
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Angel Hill Historic District
First Street Area
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
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Center City Historic District
Center City,MN 55012
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/All_verterns_memorial.jpg)
Chisago County All Veteran’s Memorial
30525 Linden Street
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Chisago-County-Historical-Society-Candy-Counter-1024x768.jpg)
Chisago County Historical Society
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/CLEvangelical_Church.jpg)
Chisago Lakes Evangelical Lutheran Church
Center City, MN 55012
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Barn_Quilt_Trail.jpg)
Chisago Lakes Barn Quilt Trail
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Daniel_cabin.jpg)
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Extortion_17_vets.jpg)
Extortion 17 Veteran’s Memorial
10625 Railroad Ave
Chisago City, MN 55013
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/First_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church.jpg)
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Lindstrom_Historical_soceity.jpg)
Friends of the Karl Oskar House
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Gammelgarden_Museum.jpg)
Gammelgarden Museum
Scandia, MN 55073
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Glader_Cemetary2.jpg)
Glader Cemetery
Lindstrom, MN 55045
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Glädje
Lindström, Minnesota 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Gustaf_House.jpg)
Gustaf Anderson House
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Immanuel_Lutheran_Church.jpg)
Immanuel Lutheran Church
Center City, MN 55012
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Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum
Chisago City, MN 55013
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Karl_Oskar_Kristina_Statue.jpg)
Karl Oskar & Kristina Statue
12631 Lake Blvd
Lindstrom, MN 55045
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Lars J. Thorsander House
Shafer, MN 55074
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Lindström Historical Walking Tour
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Moody_Round_Barn.jpg)
Moody Round Barn and Township Park
Chisago City, MN 55013
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Nellie Gustafson Sculpture
11754 302nd St
Chisago City, MN 55013
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Northern_Pacific_Railway.jpg)
Northern Pacific Railway Depot
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Lindstrom_Historical_soceity.jpg)
Nya Duvemala
29061 Glader Blvd
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Pioneer_Sculptures.jpg)
Per Andersson, Daniel Lindstrom, Erik Norelius Sculptures
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Circle_tour.jpg)
Swedish Circle Tour
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Swedish_Coffee_pot.jpg)
Swedish Coffee Pot Water Tower
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Swedish_Immigrant.jpg)
Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Taylors_Falls_Public_schoolhouse.jpg)
Taylors Falls Historic Public Schoolhouse
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
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Taylors Falls Historical Society
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Wild_Scenic_Boat_Tours.jpg)
Taylors Falls Scenic Boat Tours
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TF_Methodist_Church.jpg)
Taylors Falls United Methodist Church
Taylors Falls, MN 55084
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Vilhelm_Moberg_Statue.jpg)
Vilhelm Moberg Statue
10625 Railroad Ave
Chisago City, MN 55013
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Vilhelm_Moberg_Desk.jpg)
Vilhelm Moberg’s Desk
12631 Lake Blvd
Lindstrom, MN 55045
![](https://chisagolakes.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Folsom_House.jpg)
W.H.C. Folsom House Museum
Taylors Falls, MN 55084