We Are Water MN

We Are Water MN is a traveling exhibit that examines water issues across the state and in local communities through personal stories, histories, and scientific information. It strengthens Minnesotans’ relationships with water, exposes visitors to new perspectives, and increases participation in water stewardship activities.

We invite you to visit the exhibit, hosted by Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) from April 23 to June 14, 2026, at our Watershed Learning Center.

Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD)

CRWD is local government unit working to protect the health of the District’s lakes, streams, wetlands and the Mississippi River. Visit About CRWD to learn more about our work and find an interactive map showing our 40-square mile District, which includes parts of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville and Saint Paul, Minnesota. CRWD believes we can achieve cleaner waters through engagement across communities.

Watershed Learning Center

Our Watershed Learning Center in the Hamline Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul is LEED Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council of Minnesota (usgbc.org). As a stormwater management demonstration site, the Watershed Learning Center features:

• 3,000-gallon cistern collecting rainwater from the roof to reuse on site
• a community green space with a pocket park and pond,
• rain gardens and native landscaping,
• tree trenches,
• permeable pavers, and
• an underground infiltration system.

Our Watershed Learning Center also features an interactive Watershed exhibit, a Water Wildlife Exploration Game, interpretive signs, and a Little Free Library.

Events

During the We Are Water MN exhibit, we are hosting several events to invite visitors to engage with one another and connect with water. The events are listed below; links to event details will be added closer to the event dates.

The We Are Water MN exhibit will be open for viewing during events.

 – April 23, 2026: We Are Water MN Reception
Join visual artist, Christina Vang, for the debut of her original artwork, listen to stories from beloved community members, and explore the exhibit.

– April 25, 2026: Art + Water Workshop Aquasonos – Sounds of our Watershed with Dameun Strange
How do you listen to water? Learn to make a field recording with your phone and compose a sonic story.

– May 27, 2026: We Are Water Open House & Ice Cream Social
Enjoy ice cream and explore our Watershed Learning Center with staff-led demonstrations and artmaking.

– June 6, 2026: Art + Water Workshop Aquasonos – Community Listening with Dameun Strange 
Join composer and musician Dameun Strange for an evening of immersive sound scores, including a live-mixed work of field recordings gathered on April 25.

Visiting

The We Are Water MN Exhibit at CRWD will be open on weekdays from April 23 to June 14, 2026.

Exhibit Hours

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesdays

The exhibit includes over 20 unique pieces; we recommend allowing 30-60 minutes to experience the full exhibit.

Please note that CRWD will be closed on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026.

Getting Here

Our address is 595 Aldine Street, Saint Paul, MN 55104.

By Metro Transit: Our Watershed Learning Center is located six blocks (.51 miles) from the Snelling Avenue station on the Green Line. Also accessible from the A Line and routes 67 and 21. Visit metrotransit.org to plan your route.

By Car: From Snelling Avenue/MN 51, turn west on Thomas Avenue and go to Aldine Street. CRWD is on the southwest corner of the Thomas Avenue and Aldine Street intersection.

Parking: CRWD has two parking lots. The east lot is accessible from Aldine Street; the west lot is accessible from Thomas Avenue. On-street parking is also available on Thomas Avenue and Aldine Street. Bike racks are available on the west side of the building.

We Are Water MN is a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.

We are Water MN is funded by the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.

Sacred Water, Shared Future

Honoring 100 Years of Mississippi River Restoration

CRWD’s We Are Water MN exhibit and events are proudly part of the Sacred Water, Shared Future 2026 centennial year. Sacred Water Shared Future is a growing movement in the Twin Cities dedicated to the health of the Mississippi River. The campaign celebrates a century of progress and inspires continued action to care for the river.

In 1926, a water quality study identified severe pollution and found only three fish living in 42 miles of the Mississippi River from the Twin Cities to Red Wing, Minnesota. The results confirmed what scientists and residents already suspected: the Mississippi was effectively dead. The study sparked collective action to restore, and eventually protect, this vital waterway over the next 100 years.

Sacred Water Shared Future is celebrating community, storytelling, education, and conservation as part of a year-long campaign in 2026. The campaign honors the central role the Mississippi River has played in our region while acknowledging its deep history, sacredness, and resilience.

Looking forward, what dreams do you have for the river 100 years from now? How will we — as a movement — value and care for the river? Join us at river centered events, activities, programming, artistic endeavors, and more throughout the 2026 centennial year.