Minnesota's largest towns and cities get all the attention. Even outside of the Twin Cities, smaller communities like Stillwater and Red Wing tend to overshadow the state's tiniest towns. But there's plenty to see in small-town Minnesota, from lively celebrations to local eateries and shops. In western Minnesota, there's a little town called Dawson that is home to one of the most unique claims to fame in the state. This tiny town is strangely full of garden gnomes. How many Dawson, MN gnomes do you think you could find? Read on below to learn more about this quirky town.
Dawson, Minnesota, is a tiny town in western Minnesota, along the Lac qui Parle River. It's about 145 miles west of Minneapolis.
With a population of around 1,500 people, it isn't the biggest town around. But it is among the most charming.
The town has several nice restaurants and stores, and even a coffee shop called Gnometown Grounds in Dawson, MN. But Dawson's most popular claim to fame is its gnome collection. Most are found at Gnome Park in the center of town which is the best gnome garden in Minnesota.
The gnome theme is carried throughout the park. There is even a sports field named after the quirky garden decorations.
Gnome Park houses a map where you can see where all of the gnomes at the park are housed. There are many other gnomes throughout town that are not listed on the map. See how many you can spot as you drive through town! We'll bet you'll see some of the best gardens in Minnesota here!
Gnomes have found their way into Dawson's celebrations, too. At events such as Dawson Riverfest, you're likely to run into a costumed gnome or two! This, combined with all of the other activities, makes the event well worth traveling for.
Thanks to its dozens of garden gnomes, Dawson, Minnesota, is one of the quirkiest towns in the state. It's a great stop on a Minnesota road trip or a great day trip destination for those in search of something a little different.
Have you ever been to Dawson? How many Dawson, MN gnomes did you see? Let us know about your experience in the comments. For other fun small towns in Minnesota to visit after staying in Dawson, check out some other rather unique small towns:
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/minnesota/small-towns-claim-to-fame-mn/
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