Betsy-Tacy Sites in Deep Valley
Though Mankato has certainly changed since Maud lived here, there are still plenty of Betsy-Tacy things to see in Deep Valley!
Start your tour by picking up a brochure and a map of Betsy-Tacy sites at the porch-side door of Tacy’s House (332 Center Street), or download one here. Before you start exploring, be sure to sit on the Betsy-Tacy bench at the top of Hill Street (actually Center Street) and take a picture with your best chum!
The model for Tib’s house is near the Betsy and Tacy Houses at 503 Byron Street. Henry and Minnie Gerlach raised their 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 in the National Register of Historic Places. Dorothy’s and Alice’s houses are also on Byron Street, and Winona I’s beautiful home is just a few blocks away.
Other BT places of interest:
Carnegie Library (120 S. 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,” wrote Maud in 1960. Today the building is the Carnegie Art Center.
Blue Earth County Library – Maud Hart Lovelace Children’s Wing (100 E. Main Street): Here you can find the MHL’s Deep Valley mural, original Lois Lenski illustrations, the actual “glass pitcher” given by Bick to Maud on her fifth birthday, and an autographed collection of Maud’s books.
Blue Earth County Historical Society Heritage Center (415 Cherry Street): Check out the permanent display of Maud Hart Lovelace memorabilia, including the Betsy bride doll that toured the country promoting the release of Betsy’s Wedding.
Glenwood Cemetery (711 Glenwood Avenue): This is the final resting place of Maud Hart Lovelace and many other characters from the Betsy-Tacy books. Read our guide to finding BT characters in this cemetery here.
Lincoln Park (200 Lincoln Street): This little historic park was an important landmark in the Betsy-Tacy books. As the girls grew older, they were allowed to venture downtown past Lincoln Park, which marked the edge of the neighborhood. The “Boy in Blue” Civil War Memorial Fountain was rebuilt and dedicated in 2015. You can read more about the Boy in Blue here.
Sibley Park (200 Park Lane): Mankato’s oldest and largest park. The Hart family liked to picnic here, 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.
Two valuable resources to have in hand when visiting Mankato are Maud Hart Lovelace’s Deep Valley and Discover Deep Valley by Julie A. Schrader.
Take a Virtual Tour of Deep Valley via Google Maps
If you can’t get to Mankato to visit Betsy-Tacy sites in person, you can still take a look at many places you’ve always longed to see. Check out our virtual Deep Valley Tour Map here. Click on the BTS logo next to the items in the menu on the left side of the map (you may have to expand the list to see all of them). If you don’t see a photo immediately, click the link that says View in Google Maps. Have fun exploring!
