Runestone Museum Foundation

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Runestone Museum Foundation Regional History Museum with audio tour stops, children's activities, movies, & historical buildings!
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Welcome to the Runestone Museum, located in what is now downtown Alexandria, Minnesota. We invite you to stop by and tour historic Fort Alexandria, take your picture with Big Ole, and see the world famous Kensington Runestone. For awhile you will live in the past, so walk a little slower, talk a little slower, and enjoy the exhibition on Norse history, the Native American exhibit, the Minnesota wildlife display, the display of early pioneer life, and the hands-on children’s area. Enter Fort Alexandria and visit several authentic log buildings, an 1880 country school house, and view the forty-foot viking ship, the Snorri. Experience the changing of the seasons in the display of tools and farm equipment used by an earlier generation. The Runestone Gift Shop features Minnesota and Alexandria souvenirs, viking and runestone information, books, t-shirts, viking helmets and swords, and unique gifts, which many of them are by local artists, authors, and craftsmen. Admissions
Adults: $10.00
Seniors: $9.00
Student (High school or College): $7.00
Family: $25.00
Group Rates Available for 20+ people

10/09/2026

⚔️ BIG NEWS FOR BIG OLE! ⚔️

The votes are in, Alexandria! And after a hard-fought battle between blonde, brown, grey, and red, there is a clear winner…

💛 BLONDE WINS! 💛

With an impressive 73% of the vote, Big Ole will once again be sporting his famous Viking blonde locks when his repairs and painting are completed in Spring 2027!

🎨 Big Ole’s fresh new look will be brought to life by Jayme's Out & About Painting, who will be giving our beloved Viking a much-needed makeover.

And this wasn’t just a vote — every vote meant a $1 donation toward Big Ole’s restoration! Thank you to everyone who cast a vote and helped support this iconic Alexandria landmark. Your participation helped make Big Ole’s next chapter possible!

A very special THANK YOU to our incredible community partners who are helping make this project happen:

👏 Alexandria Area Community Foundation
👏 Explore Alexandria MN
👏 Driscoll Foundation

Skål to the new Big Ole! 🍻

09/28/2026
Time is ticking away to get in your vote on Big Ole's hair color. Voting ends September 15th! So far Blonde is in the ...
09/11/2026

Time is ticking away to get in your vote on Big Ole's hair color. Voting ends September 15th! So far Blonde is in the lead with over 3000 votes, second is Red, then Grey and lastly Brown.

Get your vote in today!

Address

206 Broadway Street
Alexandria, MN
56308

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+1 320-763-3160

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