Gideon and Agnes Pond House

Come on down to the historic Pond House this Saturday, June 3, 1-4 p.m. for some free frontier fun! You'll find a veritable panoply of authentic parlor games to try - Fox & Geese, Shut The Box, Nine Pins, Ball & Cup, Marbles, Jacob’s Ladder and more. Bring family and friends for some cordial competition. Click below for details.

Party in the Parlor at the Pond House Try old fashioned games like checkers and nine pins at the Pond House, Saturday, 6/3, 1-4 p.m.

King of the Prairie
Sunday, September 27, Drop-In Program, 1–4 pm
Acquaint yourself with the American bison at the historic Pond House. Examine a full bison hide and other bison parts. Discover how each was used by Native people to create over 50 different articles and food items. Play Bison Bingo for bison-themed prizes!

This FREE outdoor program will occur weather permitting and with proper physical distancing and other safety measures in place. In the event of weather cancellation, notice will be provided on the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation page. The Pond House is located in Pond Dakota Mission Park, 401 East 104th St, Bloomington. For more information visit www.BloomingtonMN.gov.

Due to health precautions, the historic Pond House is closed until further notice. But Pond Dakota Mission Park where the house is located is open every day. It's a wonderful place for a walk or bike ride, and links up with the MN River Valley Trails. Enjoy!

A Marriage Between Native and Missionary Families

Sunday February 16, 2 pm

Jeff Williamson will talk at the historic Pond House about the history of the Hopkins family, which was Dakota, and how it is connected to the Williamson missionary family through the descendants of Robert Hopkins Chaska. Robert was like a son to Thomas and Margaret Williamson and was an elder in the Pajutazee Presbyterian Church. After the U.S. Dakota War of 1862, he was the Christian leader at the prisons at Mankato and Davenport, Iowa. For more information visit www.pondakota.org.

Historic House Tours at 1:30 and 3:30 pm.

Winter History Festival
This annual festival returns to the historic Pond House Sunday, January 26, Noon – 4 pm. Snowshoe your way through the Minnesota River Bluffs with an expert guide. Snowshoes will be provided, or bring your own. Bring your sled or toboggan for a thrilling slide down the hill, and play traditional Dakota winter games. Warm up by the bonfire, or come indoors and enjoy cookies and cocoa by the fireplace. Play Animal Track Bingo, and listen to live traditional fiddle music by Gary Schulte. Free parking and admission. The Pond House is located in Pond Dakota Mission Park, 401 East 104th St, Bloomington. For more information call Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8693 or visit www.BloomingtonMN.gov.

Beading with Carol Charging Thunder
Sunday November 3
Drop-In Program 2 - 4 pm
Make your own pair of dentalium earrings to take home with Lakota artist and St. Paul resident Carol Charging Thunder! Carol has been beading for over 50 years. Some of her beadwork has been exhibited at the Tweed Museum of Art in Duluth. All supplies will be provided.Take a tour of the historic Pond House at 1:30 pm.

River Rendezvous Returns!

One of the finest living history events in the Midwest, River Rendezvous returns to Pond Dakota Mission Park in Bloomington on Thursday September 19, 4- 8:30 p.m. Through authentic hands-on experiences, over 40 costumed re-enactors will demonstrate 19th century pioneer life and trades, Native American life including dance performances, frontier farming, the fur trade, wilderness skills, and fun & games. Tours of the restored 1856 Gideon and Agnes Pond House will be given throughout the evening. Admission $6, children under 4 are free. Pond Dakota Mission Park is located at 401 East 104th St, Bloomington. For more information call Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8693 or visit https://www.bloomingtonmn.gov/pr/events/river-rendezvous-public-day-2019-09-05.

Working with Horn
Drop-In Program Sunday, August 4, 2–4 pm
Meet David Vavreck, one of America's few remaining horn workers! See a wide variety of horn products, and try using a horner’s hand tools, including a pump drill. Take home an authentic horn button! Until the invention of synthetics in the later 19th century, animal horn was used as a raw material in the manufacture of thousands of products such as combs, spoons, powder horns, and more. House tour at 1:30 pm.