hinckley fire museum

283charlesm

The Hinckley Fire Museum is a place to not only learn about a time and an event but a way of life that is no longer happening. Imagine the fun and excitement seeing animal skulls, tapestry and volunteers that have more than enough stories and enthusiasm for the whole family. :)

700christine

I took my 8 and 10 year olds to the museum. We enjoyed it. They are good about museum hopping with me. They learned many things about the fire from the movie and the displays. We were only there for about an hour. The place was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday afternoon. Everyone enjoyed looking at the burned artifacts and the mini replication of the town before it burned. If you are already in Hinckley, it is a nice little side trip. I would not make a special trip for this museum.

pbxpert

This museum is staffed by volunteers who proudly provide so much information about this catastrophic event. She informed us that the loss of life was closer to the 1000 mark due to bodies never recovered, reported lost, etc. The stories of those saved from this unbelievably horrible cyclonic fire storm is heartwarming. The video shown before touring the rest of the museum is excellent. The $5.00 adult ($4 seniors) makes this an unbelievable great bargain.

26pt2runner

Small museum packed with history related to the Great Hinckley Fire(storm) that occurred on September 1, 1894. See, I learned the date! I was catered to by the nice lady volunteer as I was the only patron late on a Thursday afternoon. Exhibits are a bite crude from a stylistic standpoint but this is a small town museum so who cares - they informed well enough. Make sure not to miss the upstairs apartment that once housed the depot masters family. Worth an hour stop!

camaas

Can you imagine trying to find an escape from flames that not only are surrounding you but are shooting up higher than you can see? The displays, video, and commentary got me thinking if I would have been able to cope with this horrific firestorm. Be sure to stop and put yourself into the four hours of terror that Hinckley and the surrounding areas endured, and resurrecting their lives from the ashes. Made my life seem truly blessed.

JBPortland

Once upon a time, Hinckley, MN was a lumber town, it didn't rain the summer of 1894, and the slag was left in the woods. It caught fire, and the fire storm rose to 23,000 feet. The 400 sqare miles burned in 4 hours, >400 people died, those who didn't make it out on the train, hid in streams and ponds. Most of those who died were buried in mass graves east of town. The museum, via film and displays, is in the rebuilt train station. It documents the tragedy. It's a sobering visit.

Inge1854

Regional history enthusiasts will enjoy the Hinckley Fire Museum, located just a minute or so west of I-35 in Hinckley. Housed in a restored railroad depot, the main exhibit features artifacts and interpretative text detailing the great Hinckley fire of 1894 - there is also an interpretative film (with a corresponding overwrought soundtrack) telling the story of the fire, its origin and aftermath. If you're lucky to visit the museum when the sole paid staff member is working, you will be treated to a wealth of knowledge about the fire, as well as her vast knowledge of oral history gathered from descendants in the area and out of town. Because of the subject matter and the large amount of interpretative text, the museum and film are probably best enjoyed by adults and older children. Also: don't miss the upstairs exhibit that features a recreation of the depot agent's family living quarters. There is a well-staged collection of c1895 rooms and furnishings that will appeal to those interested in the social history of the time.

JEBurke

An interesting piece of history, definitely worth the stop. After visiting the museum, take a trip to the cemetery to visit the burial sie and monument to victims.

MinnetristaG

Not to be missed -- 5 minutes off the freeway. Learn about the great fire that killed more than 400 people in 1896 after the logging companies stripped the land of its ancient pines. The family artifacts are touching, and the heroism of the train drivers is inspiring.

THERESAG172

They show a video and talk about how the fire was several miles high more like a tornado. Lots of recovered items from the fire and a great Painted Mural on a back wall. Very sad that so many people, animals and livestock lost their lives but very heroic what some people did to save others.

LQ4L

I did not know about the Fire Museum until I saw a sign for it on the highway. It is a reconstructed depot that depicts the history of the Hinckley Fire. There is a $5 entrance fee. A 20 minute video shares the history of the town and fire. You can also visit rooms that depict how the depot looked in the 1890's plus a fire relief house such as the ones built to house the homeless after the fire. If you enjoy history, this is the place to visit.

AttractionUSA

If you're going through Hinckley, this a a must. It's give a brief history of the area and about the great fire.

ChrisO836

lots of information about a little known disaster, you'll find out how fortunate we are to have warnings in place

northernmnsong

Amazing story of the great fire of 1894 and how it the firestorm could be seen as far south as Iowa. The museum is in the train depot and includes the men's and women's waiting rooms, beanery, freight room and depot agent's apartment. A short video is shown to tell details of the tragic day when so many people lost their lives and how they attempted to leave Hinckley as the fire raged across the land. Many educational items have been collected and donated for this authentic museum which makes it one of the most interesting places to visit. When traveling between through Hinckley it is well worth the stop! (it's closed on Mondays)

lbs720

This museum is not about just a bad forest fire. The fire this museum is about was a tornado of fire burning over FIVE MILES high into the sky--a pure wall of fire. The stories the museum told were amazing. I stopped by the museum a few years ago, and still can't believe the story of that fire. Don't miss this museum. (It is a very sobering story. You're going to need tissues.)