Motorists traveling between the Twin Cities and Rochester don't have to stray far from Hwy. 52 to find a gem of a town. Zumbrota, Minn. -- the only Zumbrota in the world, as a matter of fact -- is worth exploring for its singular history and its variety of shopping and entertainment options.

A historic bridge

Settled by New Englanders in 1856, Zumbrota is perhaps best known for its covered bridge, the only remaining authentic covered bridge in Minnesota. Constructed in 1869, the bridge has been moved slightly west of its original location across the Zumbro River and is steps away from City Hall.

Once an important river crossing for settlers and for farmers taking crops to Red Wing, the covered bridge now is traversed by parents with strollers, joggers, and kids on their way to the Covered Bridge Park on the river's northern bank. The 85-acre park has a picnic shelter, a 10,000-square-foot playground, a public pool, campground and 5 miles of trails for bicycling, walking, horseback riding and snowmobiling.

Visitors wishing to learn more about the bridge's history can purchase a video and related books at the Zumbrota Area Historical Society (55 E. 3rd St.; 1-507-732-7333; www.zumbrotahistory.com). Located in the former City Hall and Fire Hall, the museum is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. Its prized possession is a Civil War-era drum that belonged to Zumbrota resident Louis Abend, who was a drummer with the 165th Pennsylvania Infantry and the 3rd New York Cavalry. His claim to fame was playing the drum at President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration, and a month later, at Lincoln's funeral procession.

A hub of arts and culture

Around the corner from the museum is the town's center of cultural activity, Crossings at Carnegie (320 East Av.; 1-507-732-7616; www.crossingsatcarnegie.com), formerly the state's smallest Carnegie library. Marie Marvin bought it in 2001 and transformed it into a wonder of a place that serves multiple uses; it's an art gallery, a gift shop, a 100-seat concert hall, and a classroom for everything from pottery and drawing to yoga and Spanish.

A Zumbrota native, Marvin learned after she bought the 102-year-old building that her great-aunt was its first librarian. She can point out where the checkout desk used to be, and where the children's books were located. The gallery exhibit changes every month, and the concert schedule is packed with national and regional performers like Michael Johnson, Peter Ostroushko and Bo Ramsey.

Marvin says the musicians enjoy performing on the tiny stage, so close to the audience. "It's so different to see them in this setting. It's intimate and magical," she says.

The Crossings also schedules concerts at the nearby State Theatre (88 E. 4th St.; 1-507-732-5210; www.zumbrota theatre.com), a larger venue that operated as a movie theater until two years ago. The Zumbrota Area Arts Council and a group of citizens have launched a campaign to raise $650,000 to buy and renovate the 89-year-old building so it can continue to be used for theater, music and other community events. Garrison Keillor hosted a fundraising event at the theater last fall.

A lively Main Street

People in Zumbrota are proud of their bustling downtown, where they can get a prescription filled, grab a cup of coffee and a slice of pie, and buy necessities at the hardware store. The most striking building on Main Street is the Anderson Block building. Roxanne Bartsh and her husband, David Zimmerman, bought the 15,000-square-foot building in 2001 and have beautifully restored it. Bartsh operates a fun and funky women's clothing boutique on the building's southern half, Wild Ginger (320 S. Main St.; 1-507-732-4123; www.shopwildginger.com).

Next door to Wild Ginger is Phenomenal Woman (340 S. Main St.; 1-507-732-7500; www.pwconsignment.com), a consignment shop for women sizes 14 and up. Across the street, shoppers can find scrapbooking materials, craft supplies and home decor items at Autumn Moon (345 S. Main St.; 1-507-732-7400; www.autumnmoononline.blog

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Joy Riggs is a freelance writer based in Northfield, Minn.