Step into the Hubbard House for a 50-minute guided tour that brings original family rooms and furnishings to life. Limited to small groups, these tours give close-up access to domestic history in downtown Mankato.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
50 minutes
Fitness Level
Minimal physical fitness needed; expect narrow thresholds and short standing periods.
Wildlife
History
The Hubbard House preserves rooms and furnishings original to a single family, offering a rare intact view of domestic life in Mankato’s past.
Conservation
The site emphasizes preservation through no‑touch rules and a no‑photography policy indoors to limit handling and light exposure to fragile materials.
Blue Earth County Historical Society
Blue Earth County Historical Society is based in Mankato, Minnesota and offers public programming focused on the Historic R.D. Hubbard House. The Society presents guided tours and specialty experiences that interpret the architecture, material culture, and family history tied to the Hubbard property.
The R.D. Hubbard House Guided Tour runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day and showcases the house's French Second Empire architecture, innovations such as indoor plumbing, the history of the Hubbard family, the adjoining Victorian gardens, and the carriage house antique collections. These guided tours provide visitors with curated access to period rooms and artifacts that connect local history with the built environment.
The Hubbard House Flashlight Tours are a specialty offering that explores Victorian mourning customs and superstitions in an atmospheric, limited-capacity setting. Flashlight tours include access to restricted areas such as the attic and basement and are intentionally limited to just 10 participants to preserve an intimate visitor experience.
All programming is offered by the Blue Earth County Historical Society and takes place at the Hubbard House in Mankato, Minnesota. Visitors can expect historically grounded interpretation of the Hubbard House site, with opportunities to learn about domestic technology, Victorian-era customs, and the material legacy of the Hubbard family.
Location
Mankato, MN
Located in Blue Earth County
Guided Tours
Memorial Day–Labor Day
Seasonal daytime tours
Flashlight Tours
10 participants
Limited-capacity evening tour
Architectural Style
French Second Empire
Notable historic architecture
Book a guided tour between Memorial Day and Labor Day or secure a spot on a limited flashlight tour (10 participants maximum).
Book a specific hour
Tours run on the hour and groups are capped at 12—reserve a slot to guarantee your time.
Arrive early to check in
Plan to be at the Carriage House 10–15 minutes before your tour to handle accessibility needs and briefings.
No interior photography
Photography is prohibited inside the house to protect artifacts—plan to shoot only exteriors.
Hands off the artifacts
Many furnishings are original; do not touch items and follow guide instructions to help preserve them.
Comfortable shoes
Easy walking and narrow interior thresholds make stable footwear important.
Light jacket or sweater
Older houses can be cool inside regardless of season.
fall
Notebook and pen
Take notes on dates, names and details—photography isn’t allowed indoors.
Booking confirmation or ID
Have your reservation or ID ready when you check in at the Carriage House.