Key Dates

Alexandria’s history stretches back thousands of years if you count the indigenous people who lived here first — and you should. European settlement reshaped the area starting in the mid-1800s, and the town has been evolving ever since. Here’s a condensed timeline of the milestones that made Alexandria what it is.

Pre-Settlement

The Alexandria lakes area was home to Dakota and Ojibwe people long before European contact. The lakes, forests, and prairies provided food, shelter, and transportation routes. This history is often underrepresented in local storytelling but is foundational to the area.

1858

Alexandria was platted and named — reportedly after Alexander Kinkead, an early settler. Minnesota had just become a state. The town site was chosen for its location among the lakes and its position along emerging travel routes.

1898

Olof Ohman discovered the Kensington Runestone on his farm near Kensington, about 20 miles from Alexandria. The carved stone — claiming Norse exploration in 1362 — would define the town’s identity for the next century and beyond.

Early 1900s

Alexandria grew as a regional center for agriculture and lake tourism. Resorts began appearing on the major lakes, drawing visitors from the Twin Cities and beyond. The railroad connected Alexandria to larger markets and made the town accessible to summer tourists.

1965

Big Ole was built for the New York World’s Fair and brought back to Alexandria, where he’s stood downtown ever since. The Runestone Museum was established around the same period, formalizing the town’s connection to the stone.

1960s-70s

Theatre L’Homme Dieu opened, adding a cultural dimension to the lake community. The town continued growing as a retirement and vacation destination. Infrastructure improvements — roads, utilities, schools — kept pace with population growth.

2000s-Present

Alexandria has evolved from a purely seasonal tourism town into a year-round community with a diversified economy. Healthcare, manufacturing, education, and small business complement the tourism base. The craft beverage scene emerged. Trail systems expanded. Downtown reinvested in itself. The town is bigger and more varied than it’s ever been, while still running on the same lakes-and-community foundation it started with.