Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum

09/04/2026

09/02/2026

We're just over a week away from the Fall Celebration! We hope you can come see the Children's Cemetery improvements, visit with our character re-enactors, get a peek into the gymnasium, and listen to the music of folk duo Curtis & Loretta. They are scheduled to perform at 1:45 in the OAC Performance Hall.
Thank you, OPP!

Over 80 years after the institution closed, history is still unfolding at the state school.

08/30/2026

Our "orphanagemuseum.com" website has gotten a little refresh. The format should help us share more stories and photos online.

Minnesota State School Orphanage Museum was home to over 10,000 children. Visit the museum and Cottage 11 to learn about the history of this school.

08/28/2026

This work may seem like a small detail, but getting each child’s name right is an important part of honoring their lives and preserving their stories.

We are grateful to The Owatonna Foundation for providing grant funding for this important part of the Children’s Cemetery renovation project.

08/24/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝘆 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗸
While researching John Bernhard Sepola, a boy buried in the Children’s Cemetery, we uncovered a remarkable story about his brother, Arvid.

In 1893, John, Arvid, and their sister were sent to the State School from Duluth. Their Finnish immigrant father could not find work, and their mother was an invalid. Four-year-old John died just two months later from a sudden illness described as “membranous laryngitis.”

The parents eventually applied to have their two surviving children returned home, and in 1895, Arvid and his sister were reunited with their family.

In his late teens, Arvid set out on his own, traveling across the United States and working as a machinist. Along the way, he crossed paths with Bernard MacFadden, a controversial American advocate of “physical culture,” which combined bodybuilding with theories about nutrition and health.

Arvid’s travels eventually led to an unusual adventure that captured the attention of newspapers across the country: he walked from New York City all the way to Duluth in 37 days. He followed a strict meal plan of two meals a day. This morning meal was at 10 AM and consisted of fruits and nuts. The other was at 5 PM and consisted of vegetables. On that fuel, he averaged nearly 35 miles a day. One report said, "He carries a knapsack with about twenty pounds, is dressed in Khaki uniform and is a member of the Y.M.C.A.

Unfortunately, Arvid died at age 29. Below is his obituary. It says he died following a long illness. He did go to a state-run sanitorium for consumptive patients just a few months before he died so TB was likely the cause of death. All the fresh air could not combat his disease.

"Funeral services for Arvid Sepola, aged 29, who gained a reputation eight years ago as a pedestrian and a vegetarian, when he walked from Duluth to New York City in thirty-seven days, on a wager, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock from Crawford's undertaking rooms. Sepola, on his long hike, lived on vegetables. He died yesterday afternoon after a long illness.
Sepola leaves a mother and sister, both living at 2312 Water Street, which was his home. He was well known in Duluth, having many friends here. He was an active member of the Y.M.C.A. and one of the leaders of the Happy Weston Walking club of Duluth. He also was a member of the Eagles and the Machinists' union."

08/20/2026

The "Young at Heart" Group toured Owatonna today! They visited the Orphanage Museum, got a bank tour from Mayor Jessop, ate a delicious lunch at Torey's, popped into Costas' Candies, and then headed to the Village of Yesteryear. There was also the possibility that some might head over to the SCFF. They appreciated the history in Owatonna. It's always fun to show off our town.

08/19/2026

𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟮 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿
In 1932, State School children were treated to free fair rides! It must have been quite a special day. The scan is high resolution, but I don't recognize any of the faces, young or old. Of course, there are no names listed. I was looking for Harvey & Oscar Ronglien, but they didn't arrive at the State School until November 1, that year.

That's quite a delegation to pose. The photo was taken by Johnson Studio in Owatonna.

The fair was held August 29, 30, 31 and September 1 that year.

08/17/2026

Estella “Stella” Ogden Merrill spent her entire 40-year married life in Owatonna. In the early years here, she and her sister were both teachers. Her sister met Owatonna architect Warren B. Dunnell, who designed the first cottages and the Administration Building at the Minnesota State Public School, and the two later married.

Stella and her husband had two children, Maud and Paul. At the time of Stella’s death, daughter Dr. Maud Merrill was teaching at Stanford University, while son Paul was working in New York City.

This photograph of Mrs. Merrill was discovered only a couple of years ago. Previously, she was known primarily through a group photograph with other staff members and another image showing her as an elderly-looking woman in her garden. In reality, she was only 64 years old when she died suddenly from a stroke.

The Minnesota History Center holds a collection of Galen Merrill’s writings about his philosophy on child dependency. I wish we had writings from Mrs. Merrill’s point of view as well. She was there from the very beginning, and her perspective could tell us much about the State School’s early years.

08/14/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝
It's less than a month till the Fall Celebration! First comes the Steele County Free Fair, then School starts, then Labor Day, and September 12 will be here before we know it.

We are thrilled that folk duo Curtis & Loretta will be joining us. Among the songs they will perform are two original compositions written by Loretta, one honoring Harvey Ronglien and the other Peter Razor from their "When There's Good To Be Done" album.