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July 2024 by Jessica Brouillette
Nestled within the quaint town of Alexandria, Minnesota, lies an enigmatic artifact that has captivated the imagination of scholars and enthusiasts for over a century—the Kensington Runestone. Discovered in 1898 by Swedish immigrant Olof Ohman, the runestone has sparked intense debate over its authenticity and origin, shedding light on its profound significance in shaping the narrative of Minnesota's history.
In the late 19th century, while clearing land on his farm near Kensington, Olof Ohman, a Swedish immigrant, unearthed a peculiar 202-lb slab of graywacke stone. According to his account, the stone was buried under the roots of a large tree. When unearthed, it was found to bear inscriptions mysterious markings resembling medieval Norse runes. Ohman's son also reported seeing the stone before it was fully unearthed.
Initially dismissed as a mere curiosity, the significance of the discovery soon became apparent as experts examined the inscription. The runic script purportedly narrates the tale of a Viking expedition to the region in the year 1362, predating the arrival of Christopher Columbus to North America by over a century. This revelation ignited a firestorm of speculation and intrigue, thrusting the small town of Kensington into the spotlight of international attention.
Runestones are ancient stone monuments bearing runic inscriptions, typically dating back to the Viking Age in Scandinavia, roughly from the late 8th to the early 12th century. They were erected as memorials, grave markers, or to commemorate significant events. These inscriptions often include names of individuals, messages, or stories from Norse mythology. The Kensington Runestone, is one of the few runestones found outside of Scandinavia.
Beyond its archaeological significance, the Kensington Runestone holds profound cultural and historical importance. If authentic, the inscription challenges conventional narratives of European exploration in North America, suggesting that Vikings may have ventured far beyond the confines of their Norse homelands.
The stone was then sent to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. It achieved brief success in 1949, when the stone was put on display at the Smithsonian Institution though the scholarly consensus dismissed it as a hoax.
Regardless of its authenticity, the Kensington Runestone continues to exert a profound influence on Minnesota's cultural landscape. The name for the National Football League’s Minnesota Vikings is a direct outcome of the fame of the Kensington Runestone and the annual Kensington Runestone Festival celebrates the region's Scandinavian heritage.
While the initial draw of the the Runestone Museum is the Runestone itself, the museum also focuses on Fort Alexandria, a remarkable example of early Nordic-American folk culture. In the tumultuous aftermath of the Dakota Conflict of 1862, the landscape of Alexandria underwent a profound transformation. Fleeing settlers left behind ghostly remnants of their once-thriving communities. In response to the upheaval, the Eighth Regular Infantry, under the directive of the Governor of Minnesota, erected Fort Alexandria in the spring of 1863. This military stockade, a symbol of resilience amidst adversity, served as the nucleus of social and commercial activity in the region.
Stepping through the gates of Fort Alexandria, visitors are transported to an era of frontier living, where log residences, a church, a school, and a blacksmith shop dot the landscape. The meticulous reconstruction of these structures offers a vivid portrayal of pioneer life in Central Minnesota during the 19th century.
The museum's extensive collection offers a kaleidoscopic view of history, from the storied adventures of the Vikings to the enduring legacy of Native American tribes. Among the highlights are the 45-foot Viking ship Snorri and the Native American exhibit.
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April 2024 by Linda Thompson
I visited your lovely museum several years ago, but I am loving that history has evolved to learn about how many more places the Norse actually visited in the "New Land" than previously known.
I feel that this helps your museum greatly.
More Validation in the future.
But we can never forget who's land this was previously.... the great indigenous peoples who were here long before.
Thank you for a lovely visit.
I'll be coming back again❣️
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September 2023 by Jerry Petricca
I’ve lived in the area for twelve years and had never visited the museum. I finally visited and found the museum to be quite interesting. The layout takes one through time in the area and many historical facts and events are well done. If one finds oneself with a question of what to do, this should be on your list.
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July 2023 by KK grimm
As someone who knew NOTHING about the Runestone, I admit this museum did an amazing job educating me not just about the deep history of the Runestone but of other histories as well (of the native Americans in the area)The museum was great and told the complex history of the Runestone in a way a beginner like me could understand. I appreciated the extra stuff outside which gives context to the city of Alexandria as a whole.This place is great for families and kids to! Interesting place to stop if your interested in this sort of thing
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July 2023 by Nate B.
Really fun little museum, very interesting history and thought provoking. My kids absolutely loved the exhibits, especially the little "town" of buildings outside. Really fun to explore, great for kids
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June 2023 by Al K.
One thing I'd like to preface this review with is how my wife and I were cautious about coming here. We didn't know how over the top this place would be as we were excited to visit, but didn't want to be overwhelmed by the narrative of the one and only almighty runestone! I'm happy to report that this museum took a very scientific and historical viewpoint on the stone! We really enjoyed that they presented a lot of evidence for and against the stone while also discussing the research done to determine more information about it! We also really liked the large part of the exhibit pertaining to native Americans, their culture, as well as the native animals to this region. The museum, while centered around the stone does a really great job giving a ton of information and highlighting different cultures which was super cool and a bit unexpected. Obviously we went there for the stone and we're not disappointed! Fort Alexandria was also cool and the Viking ship is a must see. Overall, it's a stop if you haven't been there before and you won't regret it!
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June 2023 by Jennifer K.
This museum was very fun and informational! My husband had done some research of the rune stone prior to arrival but I had no idea what I was walking in to! There are a ton of cool artifacts from native Americans and Vikings as well as a ton of local animals to the area! There is a clear path that leads through the museum as well as fun outdoor buildings to view. It takes about an hour to see everything! There is also a cool kids area with games and a dress up closet! The staff is also very friendly!
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May 2023 by JT564
The Kensington Runestone and the history surrounding it is a must see. The stone itself, the translation, and the other “Viking” artifacts recovered in the immediate are tell a story that changes all history books. And the story of the poor and persecuted farmer that found it is equally compelling. History isn’t a story, it’s real people and places. And the rest of the museum shows that, with replicas of Fort Alexandria, “Viking” ships and examples of the way of life it took to bring our country to where it is today. All ages will connect with this fascinating collection, and the staff and director couldn’t be more helpful and friendly. Don’t miss this.
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May 2023 by Reedmolly
A treasure of a museum. Excellent exhibits, many interesting facts about the Vikings. They Rune Stone is there and an explanation about its history, mystery and myths. There are also about 6 buildings to visit that are of the times (1800s). Worth your time.
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May 2023 by VillagerRick
If you are in the area, this is not a bad place to spend some time. The displays are well done, and most have not only the printed information, but there are audio enhancements available using your cell phone. The video presentation to start the tour is very interesting and convinced us that the stone is real. It seems you could spend several hours visiting this smallish museum, I suspect most will spend 1 - 2 hours. They also have a small gift shop, and it is in the same building as the Visitors Information Center.
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January 2023 by Kuvasz1988
A fun small quickly museum. I learned a great deal about local and Viking history. A nice job of tying together Viking and Native American cultures of Minnesota!
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December 2022 by gwenbraum
This was a great little find for my little family. It’s not a large museum but it was packed with cool and interesting things for a family with young kids.
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November 2022 by Jay Mian
Great little museum and very friendly staff. If we are in the area again, we will drop by to see what is new.
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November 2022 by Ted Lindholm
Fun museum, more than just runestones
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September 2022 by Wisco Simple
Such a cool and unique piece of American history.. This should really be much more famous and people should come check it out. In addition to the roomstone and local history this museum also has a outdoor exhibit of historic buildings that are made to be like a replica village.
