From big city galleries, public art installations, restaurants with gallery walls, quilt shops, music venues, converted small town churches and art galleries, there is a lot of art and culture to experience along the Yellowstone Trail! Here is a list from western Minnesota to east, click on the links to plan your trip!

This page will have additions of art organizations as we receive the information. If you know of one that’s missing, email the information, address and link to theholthouse@hotmail.com

The Meander Art Crawl is held annually during the first weekend in October and follows much of the Yellowstone Trail in the Minnesota River Valley from Ortonville to Granite Falls. https://artsmeander. Some of the Meander studios are also open during other times of the year.

The Smallest Art Gallery is located in downtown Ortonville at 118 2nd St. NW with rotating exhibits and art classes. http://www.thesmallestartga

Appleton Art and Culture is a new organization in Appleton, MN located in the old Pioneer Public TV building and offering a variety of classes. https://appletonartandculture.com/our-story

The tiny town of Milan has two arts buildings – The Milan Village Art School and the old High School building. The Milan Village Art school is located in a restored schoolhouse and specializes in folk art with classes year round. https://milanvillageartsschool.org/. The old high school building contains a frame making lab and has Meander artists located there. There is also a large mural featuring the Micronesian population who have settled there.

Watson features a mural of the Yellowstone Trail logo painted on it’s old depot which is visible from Hwy 7/Yellowstone Trail. The old village hall in Watson hosts occasional music and art events.

Montevideo has a unique public art piece near downtown by stained glass artist, Carl Unnasch, another mural is on one of the train cars at the Milwaukee Road Museum .

A mural adorns the Montevideo plaza space of the old post office and at the other end of downtown, you can find another piece of public art. The organization creating these pieces has a Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/MontevideoArtsProject Java River coffee shop at 210 S 1st St. features monthly art exhibits and live music seasonally in it’s courtyard. https://www.facebook.com/javarivermonte/. The restored Hollywood Theater hosts many musical and other events.

Plaza art mural by the statue of Jose Artigas
Montevideo public art

Granite Falls has a thriving art community in its scenic downtown next to the Minnesota River. The Granite Area Arts Council has created murals on the flood wall and hosts a monthly Makers Market on the first Thursday, 5-8 in the summer months. Their gallery and gift shop at 807 Prentice St.. has monthly exhibits, consignment artisan works for sale and offers classes. Check the website for details https://www.granitefallsarts.org/.

On Prentice St. there are gallery spaces and art for sale in Falls Cafe and Canoe and the Blue Tin Gallery. Bluenose Gopher Public House at 681 Prentice St. hosts frequent live music events. The Yes House at 676 Prentice St. is an art center which houses short term residencies and hosts classes, theater and music events. Enjoy and donut along with artwork for sale by its owner at Carl’s Bakery . Squid Fest in mid September is a celebration of art and community. Fabric Art is created at Heather’s Book Nook and Sew Much More with a long arm quilting machine and large selection of quilt supplies. Granite Falls has artwork on its public benches throughout town and in Memorial Park which also has an art walking trail. This is the third year of the Granite Falls Community Artist in Residence program, unique for a town of this size. South of Granite Falls on Highway 23, Fagen Fighter’s WWII Museum has an amazing collection of art and murals in it’s museum.

Flood Wall Murals
Blue Tin Gallery
Crosswalk Art

Renville has an exciting new addition to the art and culture along the Yellowstone Trail. The Renville Friends of the Arts organization has been in existence for some time but recently acquired the old Methodist Church building to be used as a performance, music and community space. It’s unique half circle seating and balcony makes it ideal for performance space and the other spaces will be used for community activities.

Friends of the Arts, Renville

Olivia has artwork on the Chamber building to fit with its nickname of Corn Capital. Michael Dowling plaza downtown has depictions of this Yellowstone Trail hero.

Bird Island hosts weekly Markets in the summer featuring local artisans, live music as well as farmer’s market products. The Bird Island Cultural Center holds monthly exhibits and classes and has a mural on it’s building. https://birdislandculture.com/. Gathering Friends Quilt Shop on Main St. creates fabric art and sells quilting supplies.

mural painting
Bird Island Cultural Center

Near Glencoe, the Bonnie Mohr studio is located on a diary farm at 10454 160th Street is open regular hours with a gallery showroom. https://www.bonniemohr.com/

Terra Stone Designs is located in the artist’s home at 906 Harmony Path, Norwood Young America, MN 55397

If you have information on galleries, art organizations or quilt shops on the Yellowstone Trails’s east end of Minnesota, email a link and short description to theholthouse@hotmail.com .