Follow the Great River Road from Minneapolis to Southern Minnesota and beyond. Along the road you will find many hidden gems and tid bits of our states history. Hwy 61 is lined with dozens of brown historical marker signs. Most signs will lead you to historical markers that tell you about days gone by. Take the turn off to Pickwick, I promise you will not be disappointed. Nestled along the river sits a 6 story limestone brick grist mill. 
The Pickwick Mill was built from 1856 to 1858 by Thomas Grant and Wilson Davis. It is one of the oldest water powered grist mills in southeast Minnesota. Pickwick is Constructed as a gristmill and sawmill on the banks of Big Trout Creek. The mill ran 24 hours a day during the Civil War and produced 100 barrels daily for the Union Army. After the war, the mill became a flour-milling center for most of southern Minnesota and portions of Iowa and Wisconsin.
Pickwick mill was built from locally quarried limestone, with a timber frame that was so closely fit, that nails were not used except to nail the floorboards down to the joists. The six-story building was severely damaged in 1907 when a tornado took off the roof and top storage room. The mill was then retrofitted with a flat plank roof. The mill’s roof has been restored to reflect the originl design.
$3.00 gets you in the door. Pickwick is a self guided tour and the mill is filled with fantastic artifacts of our nations milling past. The elevator only carries grain, so you will have to walk all six fleights of stairs yourself. The friendly staff are happy to turn on the educational video (yes I said video) and answer any questions that you may have.
So travel the river road, let the brown signs be your guide, and pull off in Pickwick for a glimps of days gone bye.
PickWick Historic Mill Tourist Iformation
Location Address:
24813 County Rd. 7,
Winona, Minnesota 55987
Days and Hours of Operation
The Pickwick Mill will be open
* Weekends during May, September, and October
* Tuesday through Sunday during June, July, and August
Hours of operation:
10AM – 5PM Tuesday through Saturday
11AM – 5PM Sunday
Tours at other times available by appointment. Call 507-457-0499,
507-457-3296, 507-457-9658
Ticket Purchase
Tickets cost $3 adults, $2 teenagers over age 12, $1 children age 12 or under. Group tour prices available.
For more informtion visit: http://www.pickwickmill.org
Have Bear Will Travel 
Can you still buy grain there?
The Mill is still fully operational, however because of its age they no longer produce feed or flour on site. A mill in WI does grind and sell different types of flower at the mill. A 6 pound bag will run you $4.00. I bought the buckwheat pancake mix and it was awesome!