UMRA’s Cabinets of Curiosity series of group outings is back for the 2025–26 program year with two fall semester guided tours in the Twin Cities: to the University Grove neighborhood in Falcon Heights and to the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory on Hennepin Island in Minneapolis.

University Grove, 9:45 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, October 7. 
On a bus and on foot, we’ll explore this extraordinary neighborhood—called "a living museum of Minnesota's architectural heritage"—adjacent to the University of Minnesota campus in St. Paul, with four expert presenters including architectural historian Jane Hession, and an opportunity to visit inside two unique homes. There will be a fee to participate, to cover the cost of the bus charter and audio equipment.

Participants will need to be able to board and disembark from a bus, stand during narration in the houses, and walk at least a two-block distance. An optional 4-block walk with narration will be a feature of the tour.  

Please note there will be no restrooms available on the bus or throughout the two-hour tour.  Participants should plan accordingly.

Audio receivers will be available for each participant to help with hearing the narration by presenters.  

We're grateful to the expert presenters who are donating their time to make this opportunity possible.  Your activity fee offsets the cost of providing the bus and audio rentals.

As usual, we invite you to join us for conversation and refreshments following the tour at a nearby restaurant.

These outings have limited capacity so, if you’re interested, act soon.  Due to space limitations, this will be for UMRA members only, please.

Registration for the University Grove tour is through the UMRA Member Portal. Be sure to create your login (if you haven’t already) before you try to sign up for this event. Don’t have the instructions? Look for an email from [email protected]. It may have gone to your spam folder.

Register and pay online.  Send questions on registration/cancellations to the reservationist.  Registration will be open until the event is filled or until October 3, whichever comes first.  

Please let us know if your plans change and you are unable to attend. Cancellations can be done in your online Profile, at UMRA Member Portal > My Profile > My event registrations.

Cabinets of Curiosity was founded three years ago by UMRA member and history of science Professor Emeritus Sally Kohlstedt and a team of helpers, to offer opportunities for UMRA members to experience the fascinating collections around the University and the remarkable people who curate them. 

—Jan Morlock, [email protected], UMRA Social Activities group