Minnesota

AGCO Corporation/Intivity Center

Jackson, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
43.639044, -94.984909

Experience Intivity Center in Jackson, Minnesota. We’ve expanded our facilities and created a world-class visitor’s center in Jackson. We invite you to see some of the most advanced agricultural equipment made by a company with a long-standing commitment to farmer-focused innovation. Intivity Center and the AGCO facilities in Jackson are where premium tractors like Massey Ferguson®, Challenger® track and wheel tractors and application equipment like RoGator® and TerraGator® roll off the assembly line.

We offer a two hour tour of our manufacturing facility (roughly one and a half mile walk). This tour will take guests through our tractor and application buildings as well as giving them time to look around our visitors center, which we call Intivity Center. We opened the Intivity Center in June 2012 and to date have hosted over 10,000 visitors.

August Schell Brewing Company

New Ulm, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
44.290221, -94.448509

At Schell's, we believe that not all beer is created equal. And passionately so. Any beer with true substance must start with the very finest malts and hops. No exceptions. Both ingredients greatly affect the taste, aroma and color of the beer, and are carefully selected to match the style that?s being brewed. From our legendary Pilsner to our award-winning Schell's FireBrick lager to our seasonal favorites, you can rest assured that what only takes you minutes to finish, took weeks to create and over 140 years to perfect.

The August Schell Brewing Company remains the second oldest family-owned and managed brewery in the United States. All of the stockholders and board members are direct descendents of August Schell (or spouses of them). Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, the brewery and its grounds are open to the public and visited by thousands each year.

Cirrus Aircraft Corporation

Duluth, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
46.8376243, -92.2057346

Cirrus Aircraft is located at the International airport in Duluth, Minnesota at the western edge of Lake Superior.

Cirrus Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1984 with a dream to design and build affordable airplanes that deliver greater control, more comfort, and unprecedented levels of safety.

Today, Cirrus is the world's leading innovator of single-engine, piston-powered aircraft. In fact, for the last five years our SR22 has been the world's best selling airplane in its class.

Gluek Brewing

Cold Spring, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
45.458254, -94.429184

In 1857 on the bank of the Mississippi River in an area, which would someday be known as Minneapolis, German immigrant Gottlieb Gluek started the Mississippi Brewing Company. Soon the name was changed to the Gluek Brewing Company, and by 1964 became Minneapolis's oldest continuously operated business.

In 1858 the company brewed 3,996 barrels of beer and by 1901 the annual capacity of 150,000 barrels, which was second only to the two "giants" the Minneapolis Brewing Company (later Grain Belt Brewery) and the Theo. Hamm Brewery of St. Paul, each with capacities of 500,000 barrels.

The earliest mode of delivery was by horse-drawn wagon, which limited the geographic area that could be served. Prior to Prohibition, 95 percent of Gluek sales were in the city of Minneapolis. The Gluek Company maintained a stable of huge horses hauling a mammoth beer wagon full of barrels of the golden brew. There were 110 of those horses during their heyday. Those sleek, powerful teams of Percheron draft horses, the early trademark of the brewing industry, soon gave way to trucks. They reappeared on city streets during WWII when company vice president Arthur Gluek put them back to work to conserve gasoline and rubber for the war effort.

Gottlieb Gluek worked hard to keep his dream going and growing. Even a fire in March of 1880 that gutted the brewery could not stop his dream from happening. Luckily no life was lost but the brewery was insufficiently insured and the Gluek family took a $20,000 loss. It was never officially determined how the fire started. But, notwithstanding the reservations of others, the brewery Gottlieb Gluek rebuilt was larger and more modern than its predecessor, and it was rebuilt entirely with Gluek family funds. The real cost of the tragedy, however, was much greater. The strain of the loss and the effort to rebuild the plant probably contributed to the unexpected death of it's founder in October of that year at the age of fifty-two.

By 1920 of the 114 breweries that started between 1878 and 1920, 51 had survived, only to be devastated in the 1920 "noble experiment" of Prohibition. During that period Gluek did what many other breweries did, turned to "near beer" and soft drinks along with other products. But nearly half of the Minnesota breweries would not survive to celebrate the Repeal.

When Prohibition ended April 7, 1933, Gluek went back into production. Alvin Gluek, then plant superintendent, was concerned about their customers and told the local press that "police protection will be necessary if the lame and the halt are not to be trampled underfoot, and fenders and running boards of family automobiles are not to be squeezed and bumped."

Gluek kept pace with technology, first by using one-way containers (cans) for their beer. Then by introducing a revolutionary new malt beverage called "Stite" a forerunner of today's "light beer". Some drinkers claimed it had a higher than average alcohol content and gained the name of "Green Lightning".

But, grudgingly, in 1964, the Gluek family bowed to economic reality. The venerable old brewery at 20th and Marshall was sold to the G. Heileman Brewing Company of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. And, in the name of progress, it was demolished two years later.

Although it languished in relative obscurity and changed hands more than once, the Gluek Brand "Family of Beers" finally returned home in 1997, ironically just up the road from where Gottlieb Gluek began the legend.

The Gluek Brewing Company of today is much like its namesake, dedicated to brewing the finest beer from the finest ingredients, regardless of cost. The Gluek water source is world famous, bubbling from deep within the crystalline granite of Stearns County, Minnesota. The water, which requires no additional filtration, produces a beer of extraordinary taste and purity.

Red Wing Stoneware Company

Red Wing, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
44.568819, -92.629724

Red Wing Stoneware Company has been a tradition producing ?American Made? Red Wing pottery starting in the mid-1860's. Collectors and non-collectors alike cherish the historic Red Wing and Cobalt Blue designs on pottery made in Red Wing, Minnesota along the Mississippi River. Red Wing Stoneware Company is the first name in Red Wing pottery.

We proudly continue this tradition by creating handcrafted, functional, quality stoneware. It is functional in the kitchen, you can cook and bake in our stoneware and then bring the pottery right from the oven for your every day meals or that special gathering with friends or family. You will find that our stoneware retains the heat from the oven longer than baking dishes made from other materials. Decorate your home with the country feel you love by placing you magazines and newspapers in our 3-gallon crock. Get that same feeling with our UL® rated country style electric lamps and lamp shades that have the modern convenience of a 3-way switch. In addition to retaining the classic Cobalt Blue decoration on many beloved shapes, our stoneware is lead-free, dishwasher and oven, and microwave safe. If you are looking for a Red Wing pottery catalog, just click on the link to our catalog to view your choices for great stoneware. Click on the ?Catalog? link, and then click on the ?Full Catalog? link to see our complete line of stoneware.

Bread and Pancake Mixes and other food items:
Red Wing Stoneware Company has a line of delicious ?All Natural? ?One Step? pancake and bread mixes. With our ?One Step? mixes all you need to add is water. Customers rave about the flavor of our mixes. The bread and pancake mixes are great additions for gifts to our stoneware. Complement the best pottery from Red Wing with our all natural mixes. If you are looking for a unique gift, consider our bread bakers with two or three of our allnatural bread mixes, or a couple packages of our one-step pancake mixes with our shoulder or batter bowls is sure to impress. Click on the ?Catalog? link, then click on the ?Full Catalog? link and finally page down to click on the ?Food Items? section. We also sell Minnesota Wild Rice grown right here in our pristine and clear Minnesota lakes. Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes. Choose either the hand picked or cultivated Minnesota Wild Rice all at a great price. Either will be a great complement to your Red Wing stoneware gift. Click on the ?Catalog? link, and then click on the ?Full Catalog? link and finally page down to click on the ?Food Items? section.

Do you like soup? We sell the complete line of the ?Christmas Pointe Wild Rice Soups?. These are the best Wild Rice soups you can buy. All made right here in Minnesota with Minnesota?s famous Wild Rice. Choose a couple of different flavors to include with your gift of the finest pottery of Red Wing, Minnesota. Click on the ?Catalog? link, and then click on the ?Full Catalog? link and finally page down to click on the ?Food Items? section.

Red Wing Stoneware Hats & Clothing:
Are you running out of things to wear? Are you trying to make a fashion statement? Consider the clothing from the original name for pottery in Red Wing, Minnesota, Red Wing Stoneware. Hats, jackets, sweat shirts and T- shirts are all available. Click on the ?Catalog? link, and then click on the ?Full Catalog? link and finally page down to click on the ?Clothing? section.

Candles and Tarts:
The finest pottery from Red Wing should have the finest candle, Yankee Candles. We sell a broad line of Yankee Candles including; scented tarts, votives, jars and tapers. Click on the ?Catalog? link, and then click on the ?Full Catalog? link and finally page down to click on the ?Yankee Candles & Wax Tarts? section.

Personalized Stoneware:
In keeping with our heritage, we continue to produce limited editions and specialty advertising pieces here in Red Wing, Minnesota USA for you. If you would like the ?American Made? pottery from Red Wing Stoneware Company to be used for your town, city, state or church centennial, quasquicentennial, sesquicentennial or bicentennial or for your fund-raiser, business or reunion, please contact us. You may give us a call, send us e-mail from the [email protected]? link below or click on the ?Personalized? link above.

Redhead Creamery

Brooten, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
45.581221, -95.074333

Redhead Creamery and Jer-Lindy Farms is one of Minnesota's only farmstead creameries, milking 180 cows and making artisan Cheddar cheese right on the farm.

Soudan Underground Mine

Soudan, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
47.820484, -92.238922

A century slips by when you visit this park. Visitors wear hard hats and journey down 2,341 feet via a "cage." On the 27th level, the transportation shifts to a rail car for a ride back into the mine as you listen to the stories of the mining days. Above ground visitors can explore the dry house, drill shop, crusher house and engine house. Visitors also can walk the boardwalk past one of the deepest open mine pits or hike the trails in the park through a northern hardwood conifer forest, past the famous Soudan Iron Formation.

See Soudan Underground Mine Tour Brochure
Historic Underground Tour: The tour leads visitors through the world of underground mining. Visitors don hard hats and enter a "cage" for the descent into the mine. The 90-minute mine tour will take you half a mile down into the earth. Once underground you will be treated to a 3/4 mile train ride to the last and deepest area mined. The mine is 50°F year-around, so remember to bring a warm jacket or sweater and sturdy shoes. Public tours run from Memorial Day weekend through the third week in October. The park offers group tours to schools, colleges, organizations and businesses. There is a charge for the underground mine tour.

Physics Lab Tour: The Soudan Underground Laboratory is the leading deep underground science and engineering laboratory in the United States today. Scientists from around the world have been working at Soudan for 25 years trying to answer basic questions about the Universe in which we live: Is matter completely stable? What is the nature of the fundamental forces? Can we identify the Dark Matter that seems to permeate our Universe? Learn about our first neutrino events using the neutrino beam from Fermilab and see the massive MINOS detector (Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search).

Spam Museum

Austin, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
43.6666296, -92.9746367

The new 16,500 square-foot SPAM Museum opened in September 2001. Museum visitors are welcomed to the world of the SPAM Family of Products with a variety of interactive and educational games, fun exhibits and remarkable video presentations.

Originally called HORMEL Spiced Ham, Hormel Foods held a contest to create a new name for the product in 1936. Discover who won the contest and the story behind the creation of SPAM luncheon meat.

In South Korea, SPAM is considered a gourmet treat. Find out why and investigate a world map showcasing the countries where SPAM is sold and eaten. The Global SPAM exhibit is your passport to everything SPAM!

Meet host Al Franken, former Saturday Night Live cast member, and test your SPAM knowledge during this interactive quiz show.

Put on hard hats, rubber gloves, hairnets and earplugs - everything you'll need to participate in the simulated SPAM production line. While you're at it, catch a glimpse of the SPAM Ballet. Don't miss this once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity.

Just as every Elvis fan longs to visit Graceland, SPAM fans worldwide now have their own pilgrimage to make. Museum visitors will be welcomed to the world of SPAM Family of Products with a variety of interactive and educational games, fun exhibits and remarkable video presentations.

Summit Brewing Company

St Paul, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
44.913982, -93.140497

Sometime in 1980, a dedicated clinical social worker and casual home brewer named Mark Stutrud quietly began to research the possibility of establishing a craft brewery in the Twin Cities.

During 1983, Mark attended several meetings of the American Home Brewing Association. Here he met Charlie McElevey and Bill Newman, both key figures in the renaissance of craft brewing in the United States. Only nine ?microbreweries? were actively brewing at that time, Charlie and Bill?s among them.

Shortly after that, Mark met Fred Thomasser, a retired brewmaster whose career began with the repeal of prohibition. Fred and Charley agreed to mentor Mark.

Later that year, Mark became involved with St. Paul Mayor George Latimer?s ?Home Grown Economy Project? where he received invaluable assistance and counseling. His dream for a new brewery was beginning to look more like a reality.

To make sure the marketplace was ready for the kind of beer Mark wanted to brew, he began calling on local bars and restaurants to talk with managers and bartenders. This was where potential customers would first experience his new beer. And it?s where they would decide whether or not they would add his beer to their ?list.?

Mark discovered that most establishments were willing to stock and serve a locally-produced craft beer. Most people he spoke with believed that their customers would gladly give the beer a try. Armed with this knowledge, he drafted a business plan to prove to the city and prospective investors that the new brewery could succeed.

The city of St. Paul came through with a low interest loan that allowed the new company to secure the lease on a building. But it would take a year and a half of meetings, phone calls, presentations, not to mention investing everything he had, before Mark raised enough capital to afford the right equipment and a trained staff.

The first three months of 1986 were spent gutting and rehabing a former auto parts warehouse on University Avenue in St. Paul to turn it into a brewery. In late spring of that year, the original brewhouse arrived from Heimertingen, Germany.

After a full summer of test brewing, Summit delivered its first keg on September 25, 1986 to Johnny?s Bar, directly across the street from the brewery. The next day, kegs were delivered to five new accounts.

Later that year, Kincaid?s restaurant opened its doors with Summit Extra Pale Ale on draft. Michael Jackson, noted international beer expert, attended the opening and praised the new local beer for its superb flavor and authenticity.

Jeff Spaeth, head of Sales and Marketing, carried samples of Summit beer in sterilized champagne bottles for new accounts to try. If he made the sale, he returned in the one and only Summit van to deliver the beer and set up the draft line.

By June of 1987, Summit had over 40 draft accounts. But the brewery was still too small to interest a distributor. So Mark, Jeff and others were literally selling Summit Extra Pale Ale and Summit Great Northern Porter door-to-door.

They were so successful that by the end of 1987, Summit had a bottling line up and running, a Gold Medal for Great Northern Porter from the Great American Beer Festival, a new Winter Ale seasonal, and established wholesalers more than willing to distribute Summit beer.

In 1993, Summit tripled its square footage by leasing the building behind the original brewery. A 250-foot pipeline was installed to pump the beer from the fermentation tanks through the filters to the ?bright? beer tanks where the beer was held to fill bottles and kegs.

Throughout 1994 ? 1995 Summit introduced the rest of what is today the Summit line-up of beers (although there will be more).

In 1997, Summit increased its output to 31,400 barrels. It was becoming clear that with more and more beer lovers wanting more and more Summit beer, a new facility would have to be built. That year, ground was broken for the first brewery to be built in the Twin Cities in over one hundred years.

As Summit grows into the new facility, important new faces have joined the team. Experienced brewing chemist Gerri Kustelski signed on as Director of Quality Control in 1998. And Horace Cunningham, Brewmaster extraordinaire at Banks Brewing in Barbados, became Summit?s new Brewmaster and Production Manager in 2001.

Today, Summit Extra Pale Ale is extremely popular in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Our Summit Great Northern Porter is a favorite in Duluth, Minnesota. And our Summit Hefe Weizen is a strong seller in Chicago, where they love their wheat beers.

Summit Brewing Company may now brew more beer in a larger facility, but the goal of brewing only the best beers has never changed. And it never will.

UPM-Kymmene (Blandin Training Center)

Grand Rapids, MN

Lattitude/Longitude
47.235052, -93.530257

UPM-Kymmene is one of the leading paper companies in the world. The company's businesses focus on magazine papers, newsprint, fine and speciality papers, converting materials, and wood products. The company has production in 17 countries and an extensive sales network comprising over 170 sales and distribution companies.

Millions of people around the world read newspapers and magazines, leaf through catalogues and browse books. The paper used to create them might well be from UPM-Kymmene. The paper that becomes a letter or a form, that's used to print out e-mail messages, or the envelope for advertising material may also be one of our products. Likewise, the paper used to make flour bags or industrial wrappings may easily have come from our mills. The price tag on that shirt you bought or the label on your cornflakes box might well be UPM-Kymmene paper. UPM-Kymmene offers a wide array of choices - welcome to our world of paper!