Quick Summary
I went to visit the Excelsior Library for their weekly Pop-Up Activity Tent and was surprised to run into a Minnesota Digital Library contributor during my travels.
Last week, I went to visit the Excelsior Library for their weekly Pop-Up Activity Tent, which takes place outside the library on Tuesdays from 2:00-4:00 p.m. during the summer. My family has lived just outside of Excelsior for the past 14 years, but I had yet to visit the Excelsior library after its 2014 remodel, and I thought that attending this all-ages activity would serve as a good excuse for a visit.
The interior space of the library is home to a fair number of stacks, as well as a large area for children with toys and a selection of books displayed in a bookshelf shaped like a rocket ship.
And of course, I can't forget to mention the boat. I would have loved to play in that boat as a kid. It's not quite as big as the boats you'll find on Lake Minnetonka just down the street from the library, but at least you won't have to wear a life jacket while you're on this one.
After spending some time inside, I headed out to check out the activity tent. I may have been the only adult at the table without a child with me, but the staff was more than willing to let me paint a rock or color a little canvas bag, which were the crafts of the day. It was a lot of fun, and it meant I had a little canvas bag I could bring with me to the Excelsior Artisan Market.
The artisan market was set up just a few steps away in an adjacent parking lot, and there were tents with locally made goods ranging from jams and cookies to jewelry and cutting boards. I walked back with a cookie in tow and to my surprise, a streetcar was pulling into the station!
The Minnesota Streetcar Museum operates the Excelsior Streetcar Line on the weekends, but because of the artisan market, they also run the streetcar on Tuesdays every half hour from 2:00-5:00 p.m. I had seen photos of these streetcars in the Minnesota Digital Library, since the museum is one of our contributing organizations, and I'd been wanting to ride one for years. The experience exceeded all of my expectations; it truly felt like you were stepping back in time as you climbed on board. There was so much to learn and see, both in the streetcar and in the carbarn, which housed two more beautifully restored streetcars.
I would highly recommend visiting the Excelsior Library for one of their upcoming pop up events, especially if you're looking for a fun and educational getaway for your kids over the summer. You can make a craft, ride the streetcar, browse the market, and then head inside the library for a good book once you're ready to take a break from the summer heat.
