Located between covered limestone river bluffs rising five hundred feet over the Mississippi River, some people consider Winona to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Founded in 1851 by a steamboat captain, Winona is situated on a large island and contains over one hundred historical buildings and vintage homes listed in the National Register and featuring Italian and Queen Ann architecture. In some ways, the island is still a wilderness with beautiful parks that are rich in wildlife like white-tailed deer, coyotes, and fox along with plenty of birds and waterfowl including everything from eagles to wild turkeys. Visitors can visit the Minnesota Marine Art Museum to satisfy their cultural cravings or check out the Julius C. Wilkie Steamboat Center for a little maritime history.
