Love history? Like to ski? Come to Riverside Park, one of St. Cloud’s premiere historic landscapes, on Sunday, January 26th, 2020, for a history scavenger hunt ski tour. This outdoor winter history program will be held in conjunction with the 13th Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet, a children’s fun Nordic (cross-country) ski event. The Historski is a partnership project between Rethos and the Southeast St. Cloud Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, the Central Minnesota Youth Ski Club, the Nordic Ski Club of Central Minnesota, and the Nordic Club of Central Minnesota sponsored by the Trollheim Lodge of the Sons of Norway Chapter 1-511.
Established in 1910 to take advantage of St. Cloud’s location along the Mississippi River, Riverside Park features spectacular views of the Beaver Islands and a design inspired by Frederick Law Olmsted’s Central Park in New York City. Significantly improved and developed during the New Deal-era of the 1930s and early 40s, Riverside Park is part of the newly established Southeast St. Cloud New Deal-Built Landscapes Historic District. Check your knowledge of park history, the New Deal era and the local environment during this unique winter event.
The self-guided Historski is free and will take place during two 1-hour sessions occurring both before and after the 13th Annual Sons of Norway Barnelopet. The youth ski races start at 1 p.m. The history scavenger hunt ski tour sessions will be held 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Registration is available online through the Rethos website (rethos.org/classes) or contact Ann Marie Johnson, Central MN Education Coordinator for Rethos based at the Morrison County Historical Society at 320/632-4007 or CentralMN@rethos.org
For more information and to register for the Barnelopet contact Nicholas Snavely at 763/232-4921 (call or text) or stcloud@mysl.org or visit http://mysl.org/club/central-mn-youth-ski-club or https://www.facebook.com/events/2425100984439367
Update (1/18/2020) – Fitzharris Ski & Sport (320/251-2844) and Revolution Cycle & Ski (320/251-2453) are offering free ski rentals for Historski participants on a first-come, first-serve basis with pick-up on Saturday and return on Sunday. No reservations accepted. Call ahead to clarify pick-up time at each location. Skis will be available at the Riverside Park Shelter for kids participating in both the Barnelopet and the Historski.
