Visitors & Tours
Explore Deep Valley
Illustration©Lois Lenski/HarperCollins
“To find the Deep Valley of the Betsy-Tacy stories in this hustling, modern
Mankato is not easy. You must wipe out the changes time has brought
and bring back the horse and buggy days.”
Maud Hart Lovelace, 1961
When visiting Mankato, you will find that many traces of “Deep Valley” still exist.
The Betsy-Tacy Society has maps available for self-guided tours of the Betsy-Tacy sites.
Discover the real people and places in the Betsy-Tacy stories set in Mankato,
the fictionalized “Deep Valley.”
Your visit to Mankato will be greatly enhanced by purchasing a copy of
Maud Hart Lovelace's Deep Valley, A Guidebook of Mankato Places in
the Betsy-Tacy series by Julie A. Schrader.
This book and many other resources can be purchased from the
Places of Interest
Center Street Bench
At the south end of Center Street
The bench is one of the most remembered settings in the Betsy-Tacy series.
Tib’s House
503 Byron Street
The childhood home of Marjorie Gerlach (1892-1964) who was the real-life character of Tib Mueller in the Betsy-Tacy books. Henry and Minnie Gerlach raised a family of four children in this house. Henry was an architect who designed and built this house and many other Mankato area buildings and homes, some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Lincoln Park
200 Lincoln Street
This little historic park was an important landmark in the Betsy-Tacy books. The park marked the edge of the neighborhood and as the girls grew older, they were allowed to venture downtown past Lincoln Park.
Carnegie Library
120 So Broad Street
The Carnegie Library opened its doors in 1904. “It was on a snowy day that I made the acquaintance of the Mankato Public Library with its children’s room and the (for me) prophetic painting of Delos above the mantelpiece.” MHL, 1960
Today the building is the Carnegie Art Center. For hours call 507-625-2730.
Blue Earth County Library
100 E. Main St. in Mankato
Maud Hart Lovelace Children’s Wing
Deep Valley mural, original Lenski illustrations, the original “glass pitcher,” and autographed collection of Lovelace books.
Glenwood Cemetery
711 Glenwood Avenue
The final resting place of author, Maud Hart Lovelace.
Many other characters from the Betsy-Tacy books are buried in Glenwood.
Blue Earth County Historical Society
Heritage Center
415 Cherry Street
Permanent display of Maud Hart Lovelace memorabilia including the Betsy bride doll that toured the country promoting the release of "Betsy's Wedding."
Sibley Park
200 Park Lane
Sibley Park is Mankato’s oldest and largest park. The Hart family liked to picnic at the park and it was a popular location for fun and picnics when Betsy, Tacy and Tib were in high school. From atop the hill behind Maud’s home on Center Street, she could look down on the whole town and see Front Street and Sibley Park.
