Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum

05/28/2026

05/27/2026

This morning the OHS Child Development II Class visited Cottage 11. Reading "The Boy from C-11" by Harvey Ronglien is part of the curriculum, which includes a field trip here at the end of the semester.

How fortunate that this unique piece of child welfare history has been preserved!

05/21/2026

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧
When Tim Shea and I made our first visit to the Children's Cemetery since Christmas, we noticed a rosary was placed on the cross of Mary Alice Otten. It wasn't there before. Someone had added it to her marker recently.

I did a little research into her story and found only fragments. Originally from Carlton County, little Mary Alice spent nearly half of her short life at the State School. Just days after turning 3 years old, she died from 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘩𝘦𝘢 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘴, which caused severe dehydration. There was no mention of her passing in the newspaper, as though her brief life slipped quietly from the world unnoticed. Her death certificate lists Lillian Otten as her mother and simply “Unknown” for her father.

Whatever the circumstances surrounding her life, it was deeply moving to see Mary Alice remembered. Every child deserves to be acknowledged, and perhaps in this small way, she is no longer forgotten.

05/20/2026

You have four days to experience the magical Built for Play exhibit at the History Center, showing the craftsmanship of master woodworker Cory Dotson.

Cory’s craftsmanship is still on full display throughout the Orphanage Museum hallways. He built the custom display cases that house the artifacts from State School days. We are deeply grateful to the Dotson family for choosing the Orphanage Museum as the recipient of the show’s proceeds.

05/19/2026

𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲
In August 2012, an Australian woman named Leonie Sheedy made a pilgrimage to Owatonna to learn more about our Orphanage Museum. She is a co-founder of Care Leavers Australia Network (CLAN), which is a support, advocacy, research, and training group for the half a million children in Australia who were raised as state wards, foster children, or in orphanages. The organization was established in 2000, along with a mini orphanage museum in Sydney, Australia.

During her 2012 visit, Leonie spent hours touring the West Hills campus with Harvey Ronglien, learning how the museum grew and taking notes for an eventual national orphanage museum in Australia. CLAN was lobbying the Australian federal government to make it happen.

On Saturday 1 April 2023, the Australian Orphanage Museum finally opened its doors and welcomed guests from all over Australia to its official opening by the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles. It's an honor to know that the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum and Harvey & Maxine Ronglien played a role in inspiring their journey.

https://aomuseum.com.au/

05/17/2026

Our summer plans for the Children's Cemetery are coming into focus. One item we'd appreciate help with is finding someone who can make repairs to the monument at the entrance. We've got feelers out, but thought someone in our Facebook Family might have suggestions. Contact [email protected]. Thank you!

05/16/2026

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐮𝐦
No, not the soccer team. It's the name of a group of Minnesota RV campers who tour driving Newmar brand RVs. Thank you for arranging the beautiful weather.

05/15/2026

𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡
Happy to accept recognition from Owatonna Chamber Ambassadors Steve Grams and Cathy Martin on behalf of the Orphanage Museum's role in Owatonna tourism.

Comments from Visit Owatonna.
"Tourism matters. During National Travel and Tourism Week, we’re celebrating the impact visitors have in Owatonna and throughout Steele County.

"Tourism supports local jobs, strengthens small businesses, fuels community growth, and helps make Owatonna a great place to live, work, and visit.

"Every hotel stay, restaurant visit, shopping trip, and attraction experience creates a positive ripple effect throughout our community.

"Thank you to the businesses, attractions, event organizers, and visitors who continue to make Owatonna a destination worth discovering!"

05/14/2026

When the State School opened in December 1886, it became apparent that building a barn was a priority. The school's long relationship with the popular Holstein breed began with their first purchase in 1887. Lots of boys learned the art of hand-milking during their days at the State School.