Wabasha, Minnesota

The town entrance sign proclaims Welcome to Wabasha - Home of Grumpy Old Men, since the storyline of the 1993 movie had its origins in the town. The Grumpy Old Men Festival is held each February. During my last visit, I didn't encounter any grumps; the men I met at the hardware store were quite friendly. Wabasha is 70 miles southeast of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi River. This small town has over 50 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Wabasha is the county seat of Wabasha County and a favorite stop for bird watchers and bald eagle fans. The National Eagle Center is in downtown Wabasha. This town is the oldest on the entire upper Mississippi River and has been occupied continuously since 1826. It is named in honor of an Indian Chief of the Sioux Nation, Chief Wa-pa-shaw.