Downtown Stillwater, and especially its Main Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has it all. Over 100 locally owned restaurants and businesses are dotted throughout five blocks running parallel to the St. Croix River, which forms the boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Many of these local establishments are housed inside historic buildings and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, like the Freight House, a restaurant, beer garden, and tap room all in one.
As the birthplace of Minnesota, Stillwater is teeming with history. Downtown is laced with hidden historic staircases that rise high above downtown, leading to viewpoints and historical landmarks like the Warden’s House Museum. Stillwater’s combination of walkability, historic landmarks, and beloved locally owned establishments makes it a top contender for the best downtown in the Northern US.
A Walkable Historic Main Street
The corner of Myrtle and Main Street is the exact location where the first territorial convention that began the process of establishing Minnesota as a state was held in 1848. Today, the Birthplace of Minnesota tablet is embedded in the wall on Main Street, which commemorates the site where the convention was held, and the name Minnesota was selected, and the spelling was agreed upon.
Main Street showcases downtown Stillwater’s walkability, with several historic staircases laced throughout. The Stillwater Stairs were built in 1857 as a means for brewery workers to get to Main Street from atop the 100-foot bluff. It is now a popular tourist destination that is both a workout and access to the Scenic Overlook on Broadway Street, which grants those who reach the top with views of downtown and the St. Croix River.
At the other end of Main Street, cross over onto Laurel Street and climb the Laurel Stairs, where you will pass the Warden’s House Museum, Stillwater’s only museum. This 14-room house was built in 1853 for the Wardens of the Minnesota Territorial Prison. It opened as a museum in 1941 and contains artifacts from the lumber industry, early pioneers, and the Old Stillwater Prison.
Continue farther up the stairs to reach Pioneer Park, hidden high above downtown, revealing both views of the river valley and town below, as well as ample recreational space. The park is equipped with playground equipment, benches, picnic areas, and public restrooms.