Other than to access the Root River State Trail, which has its western terminus here, the main reason to stop in Fountain is to visit the Fillmore County History Center (202 County Hwy. 8, 507/268-4449, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon.–Fri., free admission), the largest museum in the area by far.

The historical medley contains thousands of objects from the distant and not-so-distant past, such as fossils, old toys, housewares, clothes, classic cars, and farm equipment. Their 36 restored Oliver tractors date back to the 1920s. Outside are a furnished one-room schoolhouse and a spruced-up log cabin from the late 1860s.

Fountain is named for the abundant natural springs in the area, and the results of those springs has lent the town its motto: “Sink Hole Capital of the U.S.A.” There are about 100 of these small, usually shallow pits right around town; look for clumps of trees. One is fenced off directly across from the museum. You can see many more along County Highway 8 west of town and from a viewing platform just down the Root River Trail.