betsy & tacy's house tours & gift shop

Friends who used to live in Mankato enjoyed the guided tour and stories of bringing the Tacy and Betsy homes back to life.

I loved the Betsy Tacy books as a girl and love them still. What a delight to see the houses where the real Betsy and Tacy lived. I am so thankful they have been preserved and maintained for all to see and enjoy.

It is actually 2 houses across the street from each other. They have a variety of activities scheduled throughout the year, depending on the season. Staff is knowledgeable and their gift shop has some interesting items. i would recommend reading at least one of the "Betsy and Tacy" books before visiting or the tour won't make much sense.

A must for fans of Children's Literature- especially Maud Hart Lovelace. The Betsy-Tacy Society has done such a lovely job of restoring the childhood homes of Maud Hart Lovelace and her best friend (who lived across the street). In addition to tours of the houses, they plan a variety of special events throughout the year.

Grab a map and walk around the story life of the Betsy & Tacy book series. Minnesota has many famous authors but the preservation on this site is noteworthy.

The fictional characters of Maud Hart Lovelace come to life here with two homes. Betsy's house is a museum featuring the lifestyle of how the Hart family lived more than 100 years ago. It includes Thomas Hart's rocking chair and footstool, a corner cupboard and drop leaf table. Across the street is Tacy's House with artifacts from the Hart Lovelace family, photos and more serving as an interpretive center and gift shop. Be careful though - times are limited. Open March-December, every Saturday from noon - 3:00 p.m.