Stillwater, Minnesota looks like a quiet river town, but it has more history and more odd stories than its size would suggest. It helped found a state, and it gave the world a breakfast staple. It also puts on events that bring visitors from around the globe. Whether you’re planning a romantic weekend or a friendly getaway, or you just love fun trivia, here are some cool and interesting facts about Stillwater.
Key Takeaways
- Stillwater is known as the Birthplace of Minnesota.
- Gondola Romantica offers authentic Venetian gondola rides on the St. Croix River.
- The historic Main Street Stairs have 152 steps and climb a 100-foot bluff to a view that’s worth the effort.
- Stillwater hosts two unique annual events: the World Snow Celebration in winter and Lumberjack Days in summer.
- Public art shows up in unexpected places.
- The Stillwater Public Library is one of the 1,689 Carnegie libraries built in the United States.
- The pop-up toaster was invented in Stillwater by a man who was tired of burnt toast.
- The world’s deepest accurately measured glacial pothole is only 30 minutes away.
- Two quirky giants are a short drive away: the World’s Largest Stucco Snowman and a 35-foot polar bear named Paul R. Bear.
The Birthplace of Minnesota
Stillwater’s place in history starts with a meeting on a street corner. In 1848, citizens gathered at the corner of Main Street and Myrtle Street for what became known as the Stillwater Convention. There they took the first formal steps toward making Minnesota an official part of the United States by asking Congress to create the Minnesota Territory. Statehood followed a decade later. Because of this meeting, Stillwater proudly calls itself the Birthplace of Minnesota.
The town’s early importance didn’t stop there. Stillwater was incorporated as a city in 1854, which makes it older than Minneapolis. When it was incorporated, it was the largest city in the region. Walking down Main Street today, you can still feel that history in the restored brick buildings that line the riverfront.
A Venetian Gondola Ride on the St. Croix
You don’t have to go all the way to Venice for a romantic gondola ride. Stillwater has its own. John Kerschbaum has been a gondolier in Stillwater for 25 years, rowing an authentic Venetian gondola built in 1991. His business, Gondola Romantica, gives couples a peaceful and unusual way to explore the St. Croix River.
The gondola comes with a sweet local tradition: couples kiss as they glide under the Stillwater Bridge. Rides run seasonally from May through October, by appointment, seven days a week.
Climb the Historic Main Street Stairs
Like San Francisco, Stillwater is a town of hills. For more than 150 years, outdoor staircases have helped residents get from place to place, and perhaps helped them stay fit too. The most famous of these is the Main Street Stairs, which lead from Main Street up to South Broadway. Generations of Stillwater residents have climbed them.
Over the years, the stairs have been repaired and even moved slightly east or west. They started out as wood and were later rebuilt in concrete. Through all those changes, they’ve kept doing their job of helping people get where they want to go.
Today, there are 152 steps from the bottom of the 100-foot bluff to the top. It’s a workout, but the view of downtown and the St. Croix River from the top is worth it. The stairs are popular with both locals and tourists, and you might even see the local high school track team using them for training.
Unique Annual Events
The World Snow Celebration
Every year, for two weeks in winter, Stillwater becomes a frozen art gallery. The World Snow Celebration is an internationally recognized event that draws talented artists from across the globe to compete in the World Snow Sculpting Championship. Huge blocks of snow are carved into detailed sculptures right before your eyes.
How you experience the event depends on when you visit. Come early to watch the sculptures come to life. Come toward the end to see the finished works. Or stay the whole time and see it all. Winter weather doesn’t stop outdoor enthusiasts here, either. The celebration also includes a 5K, a fat bike rally, and a broomball competition.
Lumberjack Days
Every July, Stillwater turns into a lively celebration of its heritage during Lumberjack Days. The festival honors Stillwater’s deep roots as a lumber town on the St. Croix River. The city was founded when four partners formed the Stillwater Lumber Company, and its early identity was built around the lumber industry.
Today, Lumberjack Days is one of the top summer events in Stillwater. It’s a weekend of live music, family fun, local food, and a parade. Keep an eye out for appearances by Paul Bunyan himself.
Public Art in Unexpected Places
Many cities are known for their murals, and Stillwater has its share of photo-worthy painted walls. Some of its most charming art, though, is hiding in plain sight. Instead of leaving utility boxes a boring gray, the community turned them into canvases. Eleven artists decorated a total of 15 utility boxes around town, with funding from the Stillwater Area Foundation.
Tracking down all 15 boxes makes for an unusual scavenger hunt. It’s a fun date idea, a great family activity, and a good excuse to wander through neighborhoods you might otherwise miss.
A Historic Carnegie Library
Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, 1,689 Carnegie libraries were built in the United States with funds from businessman Andrew Carnegie. Stillwater is home to one of them. The Stillwater Public Library was built in 1902, and it still serves the community today.
Along with the books and resources you’d expect from a modern library, the Stillwater Public Library offers local history collections and donated art. It also has an incredible rooftop view.
The Birthplace of the Pop-Up Toaster
The next time you enjoy a perfectly golden slice of toast, you can thank Stillwater. Charles Strite was working at a manufacturing plant in Stillwater, and the company cafeteria kept serving burnt toast. The electric toasters of the day could only toast one side of the bread at a time, and they had to be watched closely.
Strite decided there had to be a better way. In 1921, he patented a toaster with heating elements on both sides of the bread and a spring that made the toast “pop up” when it was done. At first, his toaster was sold only to restaurants. A consumer version became available in 1926, and the pop-up toaster soon became a kitchen staple around the world.
The World’s Deepest Accurately Measured Pothole Is Nearby
If you’re looking for a hike near Stillwater, add a pothole adventure to your list. Just 30 minutes north, in Taylors Falls, Interstate State Park is home to some of the most remarkable geological features in the Midwest.
These potholes aren’t the kind you dodge on the highway. They are deep, round holes carved into solid rock at the end of the last ice age, when a huge glacial river flowed through the area. Swirling water spun sand, gravel, and boulders against the riverbed, slowly grinding out the holes.
The most famous is the “Bottomless Pit,” the deepest accurately measured pothole in the world. It is just under 60 feet deep and 12 to 15 feet wide. Standing at its edge is a humbling reminder of how powerful water can be.
Quirky Landmarks Within a Short Drive
The World’s Largest Stucco Snowman
About 30 minutes away in North St. Paul stands a snowman that never melts. It’s 44 feet tall and made of 20 tons of concrete stucco, about the weight of a whale shark. It really does hold the record as the world’s largest stucco snowman.
The snowman was built between 1972 and 1974, and the materials cost $2,000, paid for by the local Chamber of Commerce. The project took longer than expected. On July 23, 1974, a volunteer crane operator finally hoisted the head into place on top of the body. For nearly 20 years, the snowman stood on North St. Paul’s main street. In May 1990, it moved to its current home at the corner of Margaret Street and Highway 36.
Paul R. Bear in White Bear Lake
About 20 minutes from Stillwater, in White Bear Lake, you’ll find another giant. A polar bear made of wire and plaster sits outside Walser Polar Chevrolet. He stands 35 feet tall and weighs five tons. He was built in 1965 for $25,000, and he even has a full name: Paul R. Bear. He’s a fun photo stop and a classic piece of Minnesota roadside history.
Plan Your Stillwater Adventure
From its role in Minnesota’s founding to its gondola rides and festivals, Stillwater is full of surprises. You can climb historic stairs, hunt for painted utility boxes, take in the view from a Carnegie library’s rooftop, and make day trips to a record-setting pothole and a giant stucco snowman. Every season offers something new. So pack your walking shoes and bring your curiosity, and see how many of these facts you can experience for yourself on your next Stillwater getaway.
