The Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) is excited to announce that John Kerschbaum, owner and operator of Gondola Romantica, will be the host for the St. Croix River Historic Cruise, a fundraiser for the Washington County Historical Society on Tuesday August 12th from 5:30 to 8pm.
The St. Croix River has been used as a main thoroughfare for centuries. The Indigenous peoples used the river for fishing and travel, the Voyageurs used the river for travel in their large birch bark canoes. The lumber industry used the river to send logs down to the mills and today, the River is a summer getaway.
In 1968, 200 miles of the St. Croix National Scenic River way, which includes its major tributary the Namekagon, was established as one of the original eight rivers under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
In 1998, Kerschbaum saw a photograph of a gondola and was intrigued.  Growing up alongside the St. Croix River, he developed a passion for being on the water.  Combining this passion with his wanderlust, he spent years as a guide for canoe trips in the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota.
His Gondola was shipped back to Stillwater, and in 2000, he finally got the gondola into the St. Croix River.  He has enjoyed years of rowing lovers alongside the bluffs and lights of Stillwater. The gondolas bring the romance of Venice to Stillwater and nearby Minneapolis and St. Paul.
This event will be held aboard one of the Stillwater River Boats. Included not only will be John Kershbaum’s talk on gondola’s, but there will be appetizers and a full cash bar and also a chance to win a two night stay at Postcard Cabins Kettle River with extra perks. Tickets for the event must be purchased in advance and are $65 per person.
Special thank you to Lake Elmo Bank for their sponsorship of this event. For more information call the Washington County Historical Society at 651-439-2298. To purchase tickets go to: https://stillwaterriverboats.com/specials/

About the Washington County Historical Society 
Founded in 1934, the Washington County Historical Society is a donor-supported, nonprofit organization with more than 750 individual, family, and business members. WCHS is supported by individual gifts, memberships and earned income, and foundation grants.