The Tiny Town Of Dawson, Minnesota, Is Strangely Full Of Garden Gnomes
Minnesota’s largest towns and cities get all the attention. Even outside of the Twin Cities, smaller communities like Stillwater and Red Wing tend to overshadow the state’s tiniest towns. But there’s plenty to see in small-town Minnesota, from lively celebrations to local eateries and shops. In western Minnesota, there’s a little town called Dawson that is home to one of the most unique claims to fame in the state. This tiny town is strangely full of garden gnomes. Read on below to learn more about this quirky town.
Dawson, Minnesota, is a tiny town in western Minnesota, along the Lac qui Parle River. It's about 60 miles west of Minneapolis.
The town has several nice restaurants and stores that are sure to be fun stops for those looking to explore small-town Minnesota. But Dawson's most popular claim to fame is its gnome collection. Most are found at Gnome Park in the center of town.
Gnome park houses a map where you can see where all of the gnomes at the park are housed. There are many other gnomes throughout town that are not listed on the map. See how many you can spot as you drive through town!
Gnomes have found their way into Dawson's celebrations, too. At events such as Dawson Riverfest, you're likely to run into a costumed gnome or two! This, combined with all of the other activities, make the event well worth traveling for.
Thanks to its dozens of garden gnomes, Dawson, Minnesota, is one of the quirkiest towns in the state. It's a great stop on a Minnesota road trip, or a great day trip destination for those in search of something a little different.
Betsy is a Minneapolis-based writer who's lived in Minnesota for 20 years. If you know of any amazing Minnesota restaurants, nature areas, or other attractions, feel free to let her know about them at brathburn@onlyinyourstate.com or on Twitter @betsyrathburn.
