Owatonna in Steele County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Outdoor Audio Tour Station 2 of 6
Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum
Photographed by McGhiever, October 3, 2025
1. Outdoor Audio Tour Station 2 of 6 Marker
State Schoolers had chores of all kinds. These boys are gathering apples from the State School Orchard. Many of these apples would be stored in the Root Cellar for consumption in the winter.
Several young Wards of the State receiving hair cuts outside the Superintendent's Cottage.
A Ware of the State enjoying an afternoon on the ball-diamond north of Cottage 16.
A rare photo of a building interior. This library was located inside the 1898 School. Education was one of the pillars of the State School.
Pictured in this column: the 1898 School (later C-16), a Boyscout presentation made inside one of the classrooms, and C-16 boys outside.
This Audio Station is located on the site of the 1898 School House.
This building was later renovated (1934) into a boys' cottage, C-16.
The School corner-stone and entrance cap-stone, present here, were preserved through the efforts of the City of Owatonna & private citizens.
Above: Galen Merrill and his house. Merrill was Superintendent of the State School from 1886 until his death in 1934. Merrill is pictured here in the garden located just south and west of his home.
Cottages 14 (foreground) & 15
Cottage 14
Cottage 12
Chester Rice points out his brick
Harvey Ronglien asks if he can get his brick
Directions to the next station:
The
this page online
Erected by the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 44° 5.44′ N, 93° 14.205′ W. Marker is in Owatonna, Minnesota, in Steele County. It is at the intersection of State Avenue and West Hills Circle, on the right when traveling south on State Avenue. The marker is at the northeast corner of the West Hills Complex. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Owatonna MN 55060, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and
Photographed by McGhiever, October 3, 2025
2. Outdoor Audio Tour Station 2 of 6 Marker at the northeast corner of the West Hills Complex
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: History of State School Rock Garden (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children (about 500 feet away); State Schoolers U.S. Military Memorial (about 500 feet away); There Were Many...I Was But One (about 600 feet away); State School Buildings and Grounds (about 600 feet away); State Public School for Dependent & Neglected Children 1886 - 1945 (about 600 feet away); Main Building (about 600 feet away); History of the State School Root Cellar (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Owatonna.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
