On the southern bank of the Mississippi River, Winona is a lively city and county seat along Minnesota’s border with Wisconsin. It was originally settled as a Dakota village and is named after a prominent female character in a Sioux legend. In the late 19th century, around 5,000 Poles and Kashubians emigrated to the city, earning it the nickname of the “Kashubian Capital of America”.
Things to do in Winona
One of Winona’s most impressive architectural landmarks is the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, which was designed in the 1890s in an elaborate Polish Cathedral architectural style. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and topped by a whitewashed dome, it houses a huge marble altar and elegant stained glass windows depicting saints.
Nearby is the Polish Cultural Institute and Museum, where you can see some of the basilica’s original furnishings alongside artefacts related to Winona’s Kashubian population. It occupies a late-19th-century lumberyard office, together with a heritage house and an annex where cultural events are held. Polish books, clothing and handicrafts are for sale at the gift shop.
Stretching along the southern edge of the city is Lake Winona, a man-made reservoir surrounded by parklands and recreational facilities. You can take advantage of the baseball diamonds, picnic shelters and children’s playground or rent a kayak from the Lake Lodge Recreation Center. Elevated views across Winona and the Mississippi River are on offer from Garvin Heights City Park.
Getting around Winona
Winona is around an hour’s drive from Rochester and just over two hours from Minneapolis. Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport is two hours away and has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect from Chicago, Seattle and Portland to the Winona railway station while buses travel throughout the city.