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History

Before European settlers came to the area that is now known as Winona, the land was the site of Chief Wapasha and the Dakota Indians’ summer home. The area was called Wapasha’s Prairie until Captain Orrin Smith settled the land and established it into a community in 1851.

Within only a couple of years, the river town encompassed 300 people, a mixture of settlers from the east coast and immigrants from Europe who traveled up the Mississippi River. Wheat became the number-one cash crop in the area at the time, eventually leading Winona to be part of the country’s booming wheat belt in the Midwest.

Railroads were constructed to improve access to commerce, and in 1862, the Winona and St. Peter Railroad, now known as the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, was completed. Traffic on the river boosted due to the increased transportation of lumber from Wisconsin, making Winona the pioneer of major timber processing and marketing sites in the country between the 1870s and 1900s. With the influx in the business of Winona, people from all over the world relocated to the community.

Today, Winona continues to be a progressive force in the upper Midwest. The community celebrates its cherished heritage through a number of events, historical attractions and organizations. The Winona County Historical Society preserves several historical buildings and numerous artifacts, as well as sponsoring a wealth of events every year.