Discover Morris

Views across the Pomme de Terre River valley, trails through horticultural display gardens and insights into the region’s history shape Morris in different ways. The Pomme de Terre Overlook sits on a hill at the western end of the Horticulture Display Garden. From there, you can look out across the river valley. Visitors who want to make landscape and outdoor activity the focus of their stay will also find a trail network here: it connects visitors with the horticultural display gardens and the Morris city bike and walking path.

River Valley Views and Horticulture

The Overlook makes the landscape itself a starting point for discovering Morris. Its hilltop location opens up views of the valley, and the trail network extends this vantage point with a connection to the display gardens and the city bike and walking path. When choosing your outings, you can weigh up spending time at the overlook or exploring on foot or by bike, without limiting these interests to a single activity.

The Horticulture Display Garden at the West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris is an All America Selections Trial Grounds. Together with the Overlook’s location at the western end of the garden, this designation gives horticulture a tangible place in the town’s landscape. For travelers interested in plants and horticultural display gardens, it offers a distinct point of interest alongside views of the river valley and the trails.

Regional History at the Museum and Carnegie Building

The Stevens County Museum illustrates how agriculture, industry, education and cooking in the region have developed over the years. Exhibits include letters, tools, photographs and handmade objects. The different types of items offer varied ways to explore the past: photographs and letters are displayed alongside tools and everyday objects. If you want to get to know Morris through more than its landscapes and trails, you can include these regional history topics in your travel plans.

The Carnegie building also tells part of this story. In 1905, it was one of 66 Carnegie buildings Minnesota received. Later, the Stevens County Historical Society rented the building to store historical records and artifacts from the destroyed armory. In 2005, the society added an extension to the existing building and received two significant awards for preserving the integrity of the original Carnegie building. These milestones show how the building’s use is connected to the preservation of historical records and objects.

Campus Art and Remembrance at the UMN Morris Campus

The UMN Morris campus features artworks outside galleries and buildings. Their place in the campus landscape makes them readily accessible. The Legacy Courtyard behind the Welcome Center is dedicated to the history of the campus. These two places express campus history in different ways, bringing outdoor art together with a courtyard specifically dedicated to the past.

The Native American Heritage Barn Quilt commemorates the presence of the American Indian Boarding School on the Morris campus from 1887 to 1909. It also honors today’s American Indian students, staff and faculty at UMN Morris. Both past and present are part of its message; the dates refer to the school’s presence, not to the people today who are also recognized by the quilt.

If you’re looking for a vacation rental in Morris, you can plan your stay around the topics that interest you most: river valley views and trails, horticulture, regional history, or campus art and remembrance. This gives your choice of destination a clear focus without treating interests in the landscape and culture as one and the same.

Another destination page: Hancock.

For the broader travel overview: Stevens.