The Kasson Public School in Kasson is undergoing detailed brick and terra cotta rehabilitation through the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants program. MNHS Local History Services staff recently checked the work at the National Register-listed 1918 building, which combines Neoclassical and other styles and served many educational and social uses through the years. The property owner, Kasson Alliance for REstoration (KARE), is hoping to fill this building near downtown with new community uses.
Notice to Solicit Nominees to Historic Resources Advisory Committee
The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) seeks candidates to fill multiple open appointments to serve on the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC). Committee members make funding recommendations for grant requests of more than $20,000 and provide policy and grantmaking guidance for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, funded by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. To be considered for a term starting on January 1, 2026, email 1) a letter of interest stating the reason(s) why you want to serve on the HRAC, and 2) a resume to Carolyn Veeser-Egbide, Grants Manager, by September 12, 2025. If you have any questions, please email Carolyn. For more information, visit our website.
Small Grant Deadline
Applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants quarterly small grant round (requests of $20,000 and less) will be due Friday, October 10, 2025. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
SEPTEMBER Grants Open House
September 4 - Online: The Grants Office will hold a virtual Grants Office Open House using Google Meet from 2 to 3:30 pm in order to provide additional grants support to our communities. We encourage people to RSVP to Gillian with a short summary of what you want to talk about and she will try to ensure that someone helpful will be available. Learn more »
Grants Office Webinar: First Steps Towards a Grant
August 21 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: In this webinar, you will learn what you need to do to register for a grants portal login, how to apply, what the grant programs offer, what the programs can fund, and which resources are available for applicants. If you have never applied for a grant before or would like to hear about the process again, this webinar is for you. Presented by MNHS Grants Staff.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: (US) +1 386-361-3086 PIN: 420 891 978#
Grants Office Webinar: How to Use Grants Office Feedback
August 28 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: You submitted your organization’s pre-application to the large legacy round. We’ve sent back one to three pages of comments and advice. The comments will help you rewrite an application with a better chance of funding. Why do we send the comments that we send? How can you use these comments to rewrite? We will look at edits to example applications using pre-app comment letters and discuss common application improvements.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: (US) +1 386-361-3086 PIN: 420 891 978#
Grants Office YouTube Playlist »
This week's blog post is from the Meeker County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
Jacobson Store of Crow River
Little remains of the hamlet of Crow River today, but there was once a creamery, blacksmith shop, church, and the Crow River Store, also known as the Jacobson Store, which served the area for over sixty years.
The store was built in 1902 by Ancil Staples. Ole Jacobson worked as a clerk for Staples from 1902 until 1904, when he purchased a share in the store. In 1910, he became sole owner. Jacobson would go on to own and operate the store until 1965.
In those early years, rural stores were often the local post office and Crow River Store was no different. Jacobson was the last Crow River postmaster, holding the position from 1905 to 1907, when the post office was closed. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Cokato Museum & Akerlund Studio. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
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Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
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Boys looking over a novelty stand at fair.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Carlton County Historical Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
Reflections Series: “Amelia Earhart & her Cousin…”
September 2 @ 6:30 to 8 pm - Lyon County: Lyon County Historical Society Museum - A special program exploring the life and legacy of Amelia Earhart presented by her 2nd cousin, Nancy Earhart, featuring stories and historical context. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Drinking in History: Utopian Architecture: Forward-Thinking Communities of the 1960s - Present
September 8 @ 7 to 9 pm - St. Paul: Rethos - A discussion led by Rethos' Continuing Education Manager Anna Schmiel on the past, present, and future of America's utopian and dystopian planned communities, exploring social movements that influenced architects and planners in finding new ways of living and community. Cost: $10-$15. Location: Waldmann Brewery. Learn more »
What’s In A Name, Part VI – Mahtomedi
August 18 @ 6 pm - White Bear Lake: White Bear Lake Area Historical Society & Ramsey County Library - Explore the history behind White Bear area streets and parks, from Warner Road to Chautauqua Beach, with plenty of stories to share. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Era One: Indigenous Histories
September 9 @ 4 pm - Online: Minnesota Humanities Center - Explore the histories of America’s first peoples before European contact and connect them to Indigenous communities today. Led by Dr. Brenda Child and moderated by Dr. Katharine Gerbner, with historical context, source analysis, and thematic framing. Content Sessions are open to all K–12 educators interested in historical content and source-based instruction. Cost: Free. Learn more »
America's 250th: Struggles with Self-Governance: The Failure of the Articles of Confederation
August 21 @ 6 to 8 pm (CT) - Online: Dakota County Historical Society - Explore the challenges of early American self-governance and why the Articles of Confederation failed. Cost: $5 members/$10 general. Learn more »
Old Fashioned Medicine Show
August 23 @ 1 to 4 pm - Mankato: Hubbard House - Step right up! Enjoy an afternoon of Vaudeville-type acts on the hour at 1, 2, and 3 pm with plenty to keep you entertained between shows including a world-renowned thought reader, palm readers, belly dancers, music, and more. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Genealogy for Beginners: A class for students & families
August 26 @ 4 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmstead County - A class for students and families interested in learning how to begin researching their family roots. Presented in partnership with the City of Rochester. Cost: Free. Learn more »
History Buff Book Chat: The Orphan Collector
August 27 @ 12 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - Discuss The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman, a gripping tale set during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic in Philadelphia. Join in the Briarcombe Room at the Winona County History Center. Feel free to bring your lunch. Cost: Free. Learn more »
The Great Minnesota Book Club: In the Lake of the Woods:
August 28 @ 6:30 to 8 pm - Maplewood: Maplewood Area Historical Society - Join the book club featuring "In the Lake of the Woods" by Tim O’Brien as part of the Great Minnesota Book Club series. Cost: Free. Learn more »
MN Remembers VJ Day
September 2 @ 11 am - St. Paul: Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum - Minnesotans gather to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day, commemorating the Allied victory over Japan and the end of World War II. Hosted by the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, the Navy League, and the Dr. Harold C. Deutsch World War II History Round Table, the event honors the service and sacrifice of all who contributed to the war effort. Cost: Free. Location: Veterans Service Building. Learn more »
Oh, Say...
September 5 @ 10:30 to 11 am - Becker: Sherburne History Center - An oral story presentation by Dan Gruhlke about Mary Amistead Bradford and the flag that inspired the U.S. National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Cost: Free. Learn more »
Growing Up in Linden Hills: The Fine Boys and Their Families
September 8 @ 7 to 9 pm - Minneapolis: Linden Hills History Study Group - Explore what it was like to grow up in Linden Hills in the mid-20th century and learn how the Fine family has been deeply involved in the neighborhood’s past and present. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Cocktails at the Castle Returns
September 12 @ 5:30 to 11 pm - Minneapolis: American Swedish Institute - An adults-only evening event featuring cocktails inspired by the Salad Hilowle exhibition. Cost: $40 members/$50 general; VIP tickets $100. Learn more »
Birthright Citizenship: A History of the Present
September 17 @ 4 to 5:15 pm - Online: Immigration History Research Center, University of MN - This panel provides historical context for current debates on restricting birthright citizenship in the U.S. Experts including Anna O Law (CUNY Brooklyn College), Steve Kantrowitz (University of Wisconsin), Cecilia Márquez (Duke University), and Carol Nackenoff (Swarthmore) discuss how immigrants and other populations have shaped U.S. citizenship and the potential impacts of proposed changes. Moderated by William Jones (University of Minnesota). This event is part of the History of the Present series and is co-sponsored by the Department of History. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
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Highlighted Museum: Vasa Museum (Old Vasa Swedish Lutheran Church), operated by the Vasa Lutheran Church, Welch, Minnesota.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.
Succession and Transition Planning: How to Begin
September 4 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Learn essential steps to begin effective succession and transition planning for nonprofit organizations and leadership change. Cost: $50 members/$70 nonmembers. Learn more »
Cultivating Community For Cultural Workers Through Mutual Aid
September 5 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: National Council on Public History - Learn about the Culture Keeper Mutual Aid Network, its origins, and how to organize mutual aid to support cultural communities. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Silver Secrets: Practical Preservation for Small and Mid-Sized Collections
September 16 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections - Discover effective techniques to preserve, protect, and manage silver objects in small and mid-sized museum or archival collections. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Good Neighbors During Slow & Fast Disasters
September 18 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Creative Futures - A participatory virtual workshop to build cultural workers' capacity to support communities during slow and fast disasters. Cost: Free/pay what you can. Learn more »
Strengthening History Communication: Reframing the Value of Your Institution
September 24 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - A workshop focused on enhancing how history institutions communicate their value and impact. Cost: Varies. Learn more »
DHPSNY: Stories from the Field: Deaccessioning with New York State's Bureau of Historic Sites
September 25 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: DHPSNY/CCAHA - Learn about deaccessioning practices, challenges, and stories from New York State’s Bureau of Historic Sites collections management team. Cost: Free. Learn more »
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October 29 - November 1, 2025 |
September 10 - 12, 2025 |
September 17 - 20, 2025 |
Additional Educational Opportunities »
National Register Signage Grant Program
Applications accepted on a rolling basis: William G. Pomeroy Foundation - This program is designed to promote historical preservation and awareness through the provision of grants for signage. This initiative supports the installation of markers and plaques that highlight and recognize sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By doing so, it aims to increase public engagement with America's historical treasures, encouraging education and tourism. Learn more »
Awards for Graduate Students
Multiple Deadlines - October 1 through December 31: Organization of American Historians is accepting applications for multiple awards for graduate students. Learn more »
Travel Research Grant
Deadline - October 15: Costume Society of America - Award of up to $2,100 intended to assist an individual (non-student) member of the Costume Society of America to travel and conduct research at a collection (private or public), library, archive, museum, or other site relevant to further an ongoing research project. Learn more »
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Fellowships
Deadline - October 27: Gilder Lehrman Institute provides annual short-term research fellowships to doctoral candidates, college and university faculty at every rank, and independent scholars working in the field of American history. Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: Vasa Museum, Welch, MN. (1986). View additional photos on Instagram »
This section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, the MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.
This Professional Certificate from the American Association for State and Local History is a nationally recognized program that equips museum professionals with practical, hands-on training in collections care, administration, and public engagement—skills essential to the success of small history organizations. Recent graduate Emily Thabes, Executive Director of the Beltrami County Historical Society, credits the certificate with significantly enhancing her institution’s approach to collections stewardship, public programming, and long-term planning. Made possible through a Training and Education Grant from the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, her achievement demonstrates how Small Museum Pro! provides immediate, tangible benefits that strengthen both professional practice and institutional impact. Learn more »
Massive improvements to come with the History Center of Olmsted County Capital Campaign
KTTC – The History Center of Olmsted County is looking to make some big improvements at its campus. The center’s capital campaign is currently underway and has been long overdue. History Center Executive Director Valarie Wassmer said the center’s main building has experienced leaking and water damage, as well as other environmental damage to outside historical sites. Continue reading »
Former rodeo queen made history, now documenting it
Jackson County Pilot - It seems fitting the person compiling the definitive history of Jackson County youth involvement in the Minnesota High School Rodeo Association competed in the very first MHSRA State Finals Rodeo in 1956. That person is Jackson County’s own Gwen Fleace. Fleace, of rural Round Lake, is in the process of documenting local youth involvement in the MHSRA for the Jackson County Historical Society. It’s a history that began with Fleace nearly 70 years ago and continues to be written today. Continue reading »
Duluth’s historic cultural hub gets long-needed money for upgrades
Star Tribune - The historic St. Louis County Depot will finally get much-needed repairs, after the County Board unanimously agreed to issue $19.5 million in bonds for other capital improvement in this region. Continue reading »
Breaking ground on new life for ‘The Rock’
North Pine County News - The city of Sandstone and real estate developer, Jillpine, held a groundbreaking ceremony at the old Sandstone School, more affectionately known as, “The Rock.” Continue reading »
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Featured BookMartin Sabo: The Making of the Modern Legislature Minnesota Historical Society Press. Book Launch |
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