The Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum on the grounds interprets the history of the site.

Before this facility was created, orphaned, dependent, abused, and neglected children in Minnesota were placed in country poor farms with adult derelicts, petty criminals, alcoholics, and the mentally ill.

This school was created to be a haven where these children could be saved from a life of poverty or crime, and transformed into productive members of society.

These were orphaned, dependent, neglected and abused Minnesota children who had been made wards of the state by the probate courts.

The school had its own power plant, greenhouse, ice house, cemetery, and complete farm with cows, horses, swine, and chickens, making it close to being self-sufficient.

In addition to grains, the State School farm produced potatoes, carrots, beans, squash, strawberries, raspberries, apples, etc.

A greenhouse was used to start the vegetables, fruits, and flowers each spring and two root cellars stored the harvested crops over the winter months.

[7] By 1945, state public welfare officials came to believe that early foster care or adoption was preferable to institutionalization, so admissions ceased.

In 1947, the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children (SPS) was officially abolished and all its lands, buildings, property, and funds were transferred to the newly established Owatonna State School (OSS), which provided academic and vocational training for individuals with developmental disabilities.

After standing empty for four years, the City of Owatonna purchased the campus area from the State of Minnesota in 1974 to house administrative offices and related facilities.

[8] The 1934 school building, now known as Merrill Hall, contains a mural, Mother Goose, created by the WPA artist Miriam Ibling.

After retiring from a career as a lineman (technician) with Owatonna Public Utilities (OPU), Harvey and his wife Maxine began their effort to remember the children.

[11] Following Harvey Ronglien's death in 2021, the museum announced a merger with the Steele County Historical Society.

Museum founder, Harvey Ronglien, lived in Cottage 11 for eight years and tells his story in the book A Boy from C-11, Case #9164.

The tour stations lead to historic sites, such as the restored Boys' Cottage 11, the Children's Cemetery, Root Cellar, Flag Pole Plaza, Rock Garden, and 1898 School Monument.

Former State School residents in the film include: Oscar and Harvey Ronglien, Eva Carlson Jensen, Lester Felien, Eugene Bliss, Ruth Lowry Fizer, Richard Webber, Violet Grothe Conlin, Wilbur Hollister, Helen Hoover Bowers, Iris Avis Segelstrom Wright, Vivian Swan Manthe, Robert Charnell; State School family member: Arlene P. Nelson; State School staff: Grace Larson White, Luella Wardien Keller; community interviewees: Bernadine Haberman, daughter of "Joe the plumber" Pribyl; Jane Jacobson, Owatonna classmate and friend; Helen Patterson, Sunday School teacher, 1936-1941; R.W.