Due to the covid-19 virus, the betsy-tacy society has decided to remain closed until further notice. We cannot provide tours at this time. We will post re-opening information as soon as it is available.
Open Hours & Gift Shop Information
Betsy & Tacy House Tours & Gift Shop
Temporarily closed.
BETSY’S HOUSE
TACY’S HOUSE
Childhood Home of Maud Hart Lovelace
333 Center Street in Mankato, MN
Maud Palmer Hart, daughter of Thomas and Stella Hart, was born on April 25, 1892, in Mankato, Minnesota. The Hart family lived in this house at 333 Center Street in Mankato, MN from 1892 to 1906. It was here that Maud met her best friend, Frances “Bick” Kenney, who moved into the house across the street in 1898. Maud and Bick were lifelong friends. The tales of their childhood in Mankato (Deep Valley) later became the Betsy-Tacy book series.
The childhood homes of Maud Hart Lovelace (Betsy) and her best friend Frances ‘Bick’ Kenney (Tacy) are owned by the Betsy-Tacy Society. Over the past several years these houses have gone through major restoration with the help of the PBS home improvement show, Hometime, many volunteers and sponsors, and hundreds of hours of labor.
Betsy’s house is furnished as a museum to look just as it did when the Hart family lived here from 1892-1906. Visitors entering this house will feel as if they’ve gone back in time and stepped into the pages of the Betsy-Tacy books. See the kitchen where Betsy, Tacy and Tib made “everything pudding” and look out the window where Betsy watched the Kelly family move in across the street.
Betsy’s House is restored as a museum, to look just as it did when Maud (Betsy) lived there from 1892-1906. Some of the Lovelace artifacts on display are Thomas Hart’s rocking chair and footstool, a corner cupboard and drop leaf table.
In 2010, the childhood homes of Maud Hart Lovelace and Frances “Bick” Kenney were designated National Literary Landmarks by the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations (ALTAFF), a division of the American Library Association.
The Childhood Home of Frances ‘Bick’ Kenney
332 Center Street in Mankato, MN
Frances “Bick” Kenney, daughter of Patrick and Rose Kenney, was born on July 13, 1891, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Kenney family lived in this house from 1898 to 1911. Frances Kenney Kirch and Maud Hart Lovelace were lifelong friends. Maud immortalized the tales of their childhood in Mankato (Deep Valley) when she wrote the Betsy-Tacy series.
Tacy’s House is an interpretive center and gift shop. On display are many Lovelace artifacts including books, scrapbooks, photographs, manuscripts, Mrs. Hart’s (Mrs. Ray’s) original brass bowl, and much more.
ADMISSION
$5 Adults
$2 Youth 6-16
Children 5 & under free.
No admission for Gift Shop only.
BTS members who show a current membership card are admitted free during regular open hours.
Admissions taken at Tacy’s House/Gift Shop.
We accept cash, checks and major credit cards.
SPECIAL CLOSINGS
Closed for inclement weather.
For weather related cancellations call 507-345-9777 or tune into KTOE (1420 AM).
PRIVATE TOURS
Private Tours offered any day, except during open hours.
Advance reservations are requested 2 weeks in advance.
Admission for Private Tours:
Regular price: $25.00
Member price: $20.00
Admission for School Tours:
$5 per person
It is requested there be 1 chaperone for every 6 children.
Large groups may need to be divided into smaller groups for touring the houses.
Contact us for more details or to make a reservation.
We try to accommodate all requests for special appointments however we cannot guarantee an appointment for requests made for dates less than 2 weeks in advance.