Historic Cahill School in Frank Tupa Park050

Historic Cahill School (1864) and Minnehaha Grange Hall (1879) are located in the diminutive Frank Tupa Park, across from Edina City Hall. Both buildings were moved there from their original sites about forty years ago. School children and homeschoolers can arrange half-day visits to Edina's original one-room schoolhouse to experience what a day might have been like for kids in the state's earliest days, from slate boards to old-fashioned games. Kids are encouraged to come in period clothes for the four-hour interactive program led by costumed schoolmarms; a maximum of 30 students can be accommodated at a time. Visits run about $5 per person, and inexpensive historical souvenirs are available for purchase after the program. A shorter program is offered for birthday parties - a unique treat for fans of the Little House on the Prairie series or American Girl's Kirsten. Parties include a craft, games, a tour, and history-themed gift bags; parents can bring their own cake, food, and tableware. Cost: $180 for a 2.5-hour party. Visit the website or call Schoolmarm Kuhlman at 952.448.4022 for more information. As for the park itself, it has grassy areas for picnics, but is too small to offer much of an escape from the traffic heading to and from nearby Highway 100.