Field Note

On August 14, MNHS’s Local History Services presented on museum basics to Corpsmembers with Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps. The crew took a break from preservation work at Camp Rabideau, a former CCC camp located in Blackduck, MN, to hear a presentation that covered the purpose of history work, vital policies for museums, working with volunteers, funding the work, historic preservation, and finding work in the field. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Rehabilitation of the Historic Oaks Lakeside Pavilion
The City of Gaylord has completed the rehabilitation of the historic Oaks Lakeside Pavilion, originally built in 1916 by the Gaylord Cornet Band. Guided by the Historic Structure Report of 2019 and construction plans, the project restored the pavilion as a three-season event facility. Work included ADA accessibility upgrades, roof replacement, screen and window repairs, historically appropriate lighting, and renewal of the original maple floor. In partnership with the community, a new serving kitchen and other improvements were added, with total investment reaching $470,000 through both grant funding and local contributions.

The completed pavilion is once again a central gathering place for Gaylord and the surrounding region. It now supports weddings, reunions, banquets, business meetings, school events, and annual community celebrations such as Eggstravaganza and Music in the Park. Since reopening, it has hosted both public and private functions with growing attendance, including the Sibley East High School Prom in 2024 and 2025. As part of Oak Tree Park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the pavilion will continue to serve future generations as a place where culture, history, and community life come together.
Recipient: City of Gaylord
Amount Funded: $262,774
Project Details

Small Grant Deadline
Applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage 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:  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 »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from Trident Sciences. Have a blog? Let us know!

Wreck of the Priscilla
During a survey dive in Lake Minnetonka with Maritime Heritage Minnesota this week, I had an opportunity to dive on the wreck of the Priscilla, a steam powered tugboat built in 1905.

The Priscilla was 48 feet long and 14 feet in the beam. Owned by Captain John R. Johnson and his Minnetonka Dredging Company, it was used to haul dredges and other machinery around the lake during its heyday in the early 1900s. It was decommissioned and scuttled in the lake in the 1950s. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• George Wilcox – mayor of Bayport and practical joker - Washington County Historical Society
• A History of Drive-in Movie Theaters in Ramsey County - Ramsey County Historical Society
• A vital piece of the cultural mosaic on the Iron Range - Jim Froemming-Hometown Focus

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Renville County Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Calumet Hotel Fires - Pipestone County Historical Society
• Those Who Serve - Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest
• The Personal Side of the “Booth Girls” - Anoka County Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.

MNHS

• Digital Preservation Specialist - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Marketing Coordinator - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
• Visitor Experience Representative (Casual) - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Friends Coordinator - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Production and Print Project Specialist - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
• Activate Rural Associate Director - Department of Public Transformation - Remote

REGIONAL

• Chief Operations Officer - Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
• Education Coordinator - Manitowoc County Historical Society, Manitowoc, WI
• Special Events Planner (Wisconsin America 250) - Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Madison, WI
• Serials Assistant - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
• Education Outreach Coordinator - Fort Buford Site and Interpretive Center, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Williston, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Multimedia Tech Manager - WNDR Museum, Chicago, IL
• Program Manager/Archivist - Black Metropolis Research Consortium, Chicago, IL
• Membership Programs Assistant - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Museum Director - Illinois Amish Heritage Center, Arthur, IL
• Director Library Services - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL
• Maintenance Technician - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Learning and Community Engagement Manager - Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Indianapolis, IN
• Digital Librarian (Visiting) - Kinsey Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
• Archivist - Museum & Collector Resource, LLC, Cincinnati, OH
• Interpreter - Warren G. Harding Presidential Sites, Marion, OH
• Contract Associate Curator - Poindexter Village African American Museum, Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
• Project Program Coordinator, Inclusive History Project - University of Michigan, Flint, MI
• Museum Registrar/Collections Manager - Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
• Chief Cultural Executive Officer - African Indigenous Midwifery Museum, Ferguson, MO
• Creative Technologies Videographer - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
• Director of Conservation - Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO
• Director of Development - St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, St. Louis, MO
• Director of Research, Collections, and Exhibitions (RCE) & Chief Curator - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB
• Director/Curator - School of Art Gallery, Winnipeg, MB
• Executive Director - Stony Plain & Parkland Pioneer Museum, Stony Plain, AB

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Aftermath of fire at Lutheran Ladies' Seminary in Red Wing on College Hill.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Goodhue County Historical Society.

FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?

History from Austin Public Schools
August 28 @ 12 pm (CT) - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - Local historian Wendy Larson presents early history of Austin schools from 1865 to the 1890s. Doors open at 11:30 am. 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 »

Cootie! Ants in the Pants! A Robbinsdale and Golden Valley Toy Story
September 10 @ 7 pm (CT) - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society & Robbinsdale Historical Society - Join Pete Richie, Robbinsdale Historical Society President, for an illustrated talk on the history and evolution of the game Cootie, from its origins in Robbinsdale to its rise in popularity and local impact. Cost: Free. Email them for more information.

History on the River: Fur Traders of the Upper Mississippi River
September 11 @ 4 pm or 6 pm (CT) - Online: Winona County Historical Society - Explore the history of Native and mixed-ancestry fur traders along the Upper Mississippi River, their communities, and cultural changes. Cruises are 90 minutes aboard the Cal Fremling with refreshments and great river views. Cost: $35 members/$45 public; season passes available. Learn more »

The (Not So) Invisible Empire: The KKK in Southwest Minnesota in the 1920s
September 11 @ 6:30 pm - Willmar: Kandiyohi County Historical Society - During the 1920s, the KKK was active in many area towns. The brief but intense presence of the KKK in Southwest
Minnesota is a hidden chapter in the region's history. Cost: Free. Email them for more information.

Mahkato Wacipi Pow Wow
September 20 @ 9 am (CT) - Mankato: Rice County Historical Society & Fifty North - Join this bus tour to the 53rd Annual Mahkato Wacipi Pow Wow in Mankato. Experience Dakota culture through classes, dances, shops, and traditional food. Dinner is included on the return stop. Cost: $70. Learn more »

Reflections Series: “Amelia Earhart & her Cousin…” Program
September 25 @ 6:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Historical Society Museum - A special program exploring the life and legacy of Amelia Earhart and her cousin, featuring stories and historical context. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
Register for an Account »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Virginia Area Historical Society Heritage Museum, Virginia, MN.

Boards in Times of Uncertainty
September 4 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - This webinar covers critical actions nonprofit boards can take during ongoing uncertainty, focusing on adaptability, leadership, and organizational support. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Managing Museum Volunteers
September 8 - Online: Museum Study - Instructor Tara Young leads a course focused on strategies for running effective museum volunteer programs, including recruitment, training, communication, and retention. Cost: $400. Learn more »

The Evolving Federal Grant Landscape: What You Must Know
September 16 @ 1:30 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Gain a comprehensive overview of the changing federal grant environment and learn how these shifts affect nonprofits now and in the future. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Future Chat – Taking a Stand: Deciding When and How to Speak Out
September 17 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Alliance of Museums - Museums face challenging decisions about speaking out on current issues. Hear insights from the Japanese American National Museum’s leadership and participate in discussions on thoughtful responses and aligning actions with mission and values. Cost: Free. Learn more »

DHPSNY: Stories from the Field: Internships at Bethel Woods
September 18 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) - Julia Fell, Curator of Exhibits and Oral Histories at the Museum at Bethel Woods, discusses the Museum’s evolving internship program focused on oral histories related to the 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Good Neighbors During Slow & Fast Disasters
September 18 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Creative Futures - Join this participatory virtual workshop to build cultural workers' capacity to support communities during slow disasters like climate change and fast disasters like floods. Cost: Free or pay what you can (suggested $10). Learn more »

Publishing Profits Museums
September 25 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Southeastern Museums Conference - Explore how museums can create successful and profitable publications, including books, catalogs, and magazines, with insights from industry experts. Cost: Free. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• AAM Statement on the Growing Threats of Censorship Against U.S. Museums - American Alliance of Museums

UPCOMING STATE and REGIONAL CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Crisis Moments Grant
Deadline - September 19: Lepage Center for History in the Public Interest at Villanova University - Support of public-facing historical projects relating to the theme "Crisis Moments." Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded for projects that creatively engage with historical crises to promote public understanding of contemporary planning, policy, and material crises in the U.S. and globally. Eligible projects include podcasts, documentaries, oral histories, exhibits, digital archives, mapping projects, workshops, and more. Learn more »

Digitizing Hidden Special Collections and Archives: Amplifying Unheard Voices
Deadline - October 20: Council on Library and Information Resources - This program supports digitization of rare materials that highlight histories of underrepresented communities. Grants range from $50,000 to $300,000. 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 »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Minnesota Mining Museum, Chisholm, 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.

Call for Session Proposals: NAPC FORUM 2026 in Minneapolis
Minneapolis will host the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions (NAPC) FORUM Conference from July 22–26, 2026. The theme is Preservation Currents. The conference addresses the work of local historic preservation commissions (HPCs) and highlights the history of the city and its communities. Participants will explore issues, share strategies, and connect with others who support preservation efforts.

If you have a preservation success story or a lesson learned, consider submitting a session proposal. The Call for Session Proposals is open until October 6, 2025. Submissions can include work by staff, commissioners, consultants, or community members. Proposals may speak to one of the conference themes: Preservation on the Front Lines, Preparing Communities for Tomorrow, Historic Preservation for All, Building Communities Through Preservation, or Preservation Foundations. Learn more and submit session proposals »

Join a Statewide Effort to Save Minnesota’s Community Media Legacy
Minnesota Media Arts (MNMA) and the St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) are launching a statewide initiative to preserve Minnesota’s community media legacy and are seeking the participation of artists, educators, archivists, and community leaders to help shape its future. As part of this effort, they are developing new strategies for archiving media and inviting community members to join a new series of Community Media Archiving Workshops aimed at addressing the urgent need to safeguard our audiovisual history. To ensure the development of useful tools and effective workshops—protecting everything from tapes and cassettes to slides and photographs—they are asking individuals to participate in a brief survey, which should take under 15 minutes to complete. The deadline to respond is September 12. Learn more about the project and take the survey »

Two historic lighthouses in Duluth could be open for tours in the next few years
Brainerd Dispatch - A historic lighthouse in Duluth may be open for tours to the public in two years — if the group that acquired it can raise the funds needed to clean and restore it. With a distinctive red roof and white square exterior, the Duluth Harbor South Breakwater Outer Light was built in 1901. It’s one of two lighthouses that mark the entrance to the Duluth Ship Canal. Continue reading »

Grants will enhance Legacy Trail, preserve historic Fox House at History Center
Monticello Times - New grant funding will help preserve the past and educate the public at the Sherburne History Center, where improvements are planned for both the Legacy Trail and the historic Fox House. Thanks to funding from the Xcel Energy Foundation and the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, the Sherburne County Historical Society will soon upgrade educational signage along the Legacy Trail and begin a condition assessment of the Herbert M. Fox House. Continue reading »

Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame plans $70M museum
Finance & Commerce - A $70 million museum and performance hall that will celebrate Minnesota hockey could be under construction as soon as next year on a Twin Cities site to be determined. The Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame announced Thursday that the facility will operate as a “120,000-plus square-foot interactive destination,” though the exact location is still a work in progress. Continue reading »

Featured Book Origin Story - Fort Road/West Seventh Street by Joe Landsberger	Featured Article Minnesota History The adoption of Minnesota's direct primary law Volume 35, Issue 8, 1957	Featured Article MNopedia Journeymen Barbers in Minnesota Featured MNopedia Article	Minnesota Unraveled A podcast series by the Minnesota Historical Society

Minnesota History Organizations Directory  • County, Chapters, and Local • Statewide/Topical Historical • Regional History Coalitions • Professional Organizations	Minnesota Main Streets Reinvigorate your community's commercial district.	Preservation Specialists Directory Look up products or services.

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