Minnesota Historical Society's Local History Services staff visited the National Register-listed Hackensack Conservation Building in June to check the status of log, window, foundation, and other work which was mostly funded with Legacy Grants. The building, constructed in 1936 in the National Park Service Rustic style by the Works Progress Administration, was originally an information bureau, library, museum and comfort station. The City of Hackensack looks forward to placing its library services back into the building when the rehabilitation is complete.
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 Grants quarterly small grant round (requests of $20,000 and less) will be due Friday, October 10, 2025. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
AUGUST Grants Open House
August 7 - 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 YouTube Playlist »
This week's blog post is from the Northwest Airlines History Center. Have a blog? Let us know!
Colleagues and Collectibles: the Museum’s visit to Airliners International 2025 in Atlanta
Steamy Atlanta, from June 24-27, was the location of the annual Airliners International enthusiasts’ show as well as the annual meeting of the AAHA – Airline Archivists/Historians Association. The NWAHC sent Bruce Kitt, Collections Manager, and Scott Norris, Vice-Chair, to this year’s gathering.
The AAHA is currently a casual unincorporated federation of independent, university-run, and airline-run museums that focus on commercial aviation, and also includes researchers, authors, and photographers not part of a bigger institution. It provides a forum for researchers and directors to share ideas and successes, commiserate over challenges, and open channels of collaboration. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Pipestone County Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Boy looking at sheep inside parked car, Oct. 8, 1951.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Nobles County Historical Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
Farmers Market
Tuesdays @ 4 to 7 pm – Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County – Join the Village Agricultural Cooperative for a weekly Farmers Market featuring culturally relevant foods produced by family farms on under-utilized urban land. The cooperative works to build economic power for historically marginalized communities through sustainable food justice initiatives supporting indigenous traditions and food sovereignty. Learn more »
Njal's Saga Tapestry Events
August 7 @ 6 to 7 pm, August 9 & 10 @ 1 to 3 pm, and August 12 @ 6 to 7 pm – Moorhead: Hjemkomst Center – Oak Room – Join Claudia Pétursson for a series of events celebrating the Njal’s Saga Tapestry. The program begins with a presentation on the creation and cultural significance of the tapestry (August 7), followed by a drop-in hands-on stitching workshop to learn the historical techniques used (August 9 & 10), and concludes with a discussion of Njal’s Saga, the Viking-era epic inspiring the tapestry (August 12). Embroidery kits will be available for purchase in the Heritage Gift Shop. Cost: Free. Learn more »
ASL Day at Gibbs Farm
August 9 @ 10 am to 4 pm – St. Paul: Gibbs Farm, Ramsey County Historical Society – Celebrate American Sign Language (ASL) Day at Gibbs Farm with special activities and performances that highlight Deaf culture and history. Enjoy a day of learning, community, and fun. Cost: $5 to $10. Learn more »
Genealogy Saturday
August 9 @ 10 am to 12 pm (CT) – Elbow Lake and Online: Grant County Museum – Join this county-wide event for a Show and Share session where participants discuss new family discoveries and what they hope to uncover next. To join by Zoom, contact the them at 218-685-4864 for the link. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Steele County Prisoner of War Camp Program
August 11 @ 1 pm – Owatonna: Steele County Historical Society – Learn about the Owatonna Prisoner of War Camp established during World War II on the former Thomas Cashman Farm. Jerry Ganfield, SCHS Board Member, will discuss how the 1929 Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War led to the camp’s creation and its role in the local community. This program is sponsored by the Minnesota Farmers Union. Learn more »
Exhibit: Deep Roots - The History of Farming in Cokato
Opens August 11 – Cokato: Cokato Museum – Explore the vital role agriculture has played in shaping the Cokato community and economy through stories, historical artifacts, and vintage photographs spanning from early homesteading to modern agri-businesses. This compelling new exhibit opens during the Cokato Corn Carnival and highlights the deep connection between farming and the town’s character, including the rise of local grain elevators and equipment dealerships. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Portrait of a Lady: New Exhibit
August 12 through October 23 – Waseca: Waseca County History Center – This original exhibit tells the compelling story of Florence Rose Castor, a university-educated German teacher from Waseca County whose career was tragically cut short by wartime fear, personal injury, and mental health stigma. Drawing from her personal scrapbook, family records, and newly uncovered artifacts, the exhibit explores her interrupted life and the broader social forces impacting many women of her era. Featuring narrative, photography, and interactive elements, it invites visitors to reflect on how memory is preserved, erased, and reclaimed. Learn more »
Belva Lockwood - Uncovering an Overlooked Legend and Her Buried Homeland
August 13 @ 12 to 1 pm – Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society – Explore the life and legacy of Belva Ann Lockwood, one of the first female lawyers in the United States and a pioneering feminist and suffragist. Lockwood was the first woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and ran for president in 1884 and 1888 on the National Equal Rights Party ticket. Discover how she overcame social barriers and contributed to women's rights, law, and politics. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Grave Matters: The Story of a City as Told Through its Cemetery
August 14 @ 7 to 8 pm – Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum – Join Alex Weston for a guided walking tour of the Pioneer & Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, Minneapolis's oldest cemetery and final resting place of over 22,000 residents from 1853 to 1919. This event highlights the stories of forgotten individuals, reconstructing city history through the lives of everyday people who shaped the community. Cost: $10–$14. Learn more »
Civil War Roundtable: Stories from a Civil War Reenactor
August 14 @ 1:30 pm to 2 pm – Litchfield: Meeker County Museum – Bruce Nelson presents tales and experiences from his time as a Civil War reenactor, bringing history to life through storytelling. Cost: Free. Learn more »
The Tall Pine Polka: The Great Minnesota Book Club
August 14 @ 6:30 to 8 pm – Maplewood: Maplewood Area Historical Society – Join the Great Minnesota Book Club for a discussion of The Tall Pine Polka. Connect with fellow readers and explore Minnesota literature together in a welcoming, community setting. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Fix-It Clinic
August 15 @ 1 to 4 pm – St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum in partnership with Reuse Minnesota – Join this free, hands-on Fix-It Clinic at the Whitney Senior Center where skilled volunteers will help repair textiles, small appliances, electronics, and toys. Participants learn practical repair skills while fostering community connection and waste reduction. Pre-registration is required with a limit of 2 items per household. This event is supported by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Statewide Waste Reduction and Reuse grant. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Tour the Lepak/Larson House Museum
August 16 @ 10 am to 12 pm – Shoreview: Shoreview Historical Society – Explore the historic Lepak/Larson House Museum with a guided tour that highlights the architectural features and local history connected to this preserved home. Discover the stories of the families who lived there and the significance of the house in the Shoreview community. Learn more »
Flecks Walking Tour
August 16 @ 2 to 3 pm and 4 to 5 pm – Faribault: Rice County Historical Society – Join walking tours of the Old Flecks Brewery site to explore the ruins and imagine the brewery in its prime. The tour includes walking on steep and uneven ground, so good walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, bug spray, and water are recommended. The tour starts at the NW corner of the Shattuck-St. Mary’s campus near "The Inn." Visitors must reserve spots as space is limited. Cost: $5 members/$10 general. For more information call: 507-332-2121.
The River Connects Us Exhibit Reception
August 16 @ 11 am to 1 pm – Little Falls: Morrison County Historical Society – Celebrate the temporary exhibit "The River Connects Us," featuring a photographic journey exploring life and culture along the Mississippi River from its headwaters at Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. The exhibit showcases vibrant images by principal photographer Peter Mutschler, accompanied by poetry from Stillwater-based author Tom Gillaspy, offering a powerful reflection on the river’s historical and cultural significance. The exhibit will be on display through Labor Day weekend at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. For more information call: 320-632-4007.
GAI Café: Immigrant roots of Saint Paul’s West Seventh corridor
August 17 @ 9 am to 12 pm – St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute – Join local historian Joe Landsberger for a presentation at 10 am about the immigrant roots of Saint Paul’s West Seventh corridor. Discover how Germanic immigrants from the 1840s played a major role in building some of the city's oldest neighborhoods and commercial areas, and how community efforts helped restore and preserve this historic area. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
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Highlighted Museum: Tri-River Pioneer Museum, Plummer, MN.
Preserving Collections
August 26 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) – Online: American Association for State and Local History – Join a free and informal AASLH History Hour event focusing on the best practices to begin preservation of collections of any size. Learn how to identify common problems affecting archival, photographic, and three-dimensional collections, care and handling basics, creating a stable environment, and future planning for long-term preservation. The session includes expert remarks and small group discussions for community building among peers nationwide. Cost: Free (registration required). Learn more »
Small Museum Activities on a Budget
August 26 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) – Online: New England Museum Association – Join this open forum Zoom meeting focused on “Small Museum Activities on a Budget!” Participants are invited to share stories, ask questions, and discuss challenges related to managing small museum activities with limited financial resources. Cost: Free. Learn more »
From Awareness to Action: Advocating for Integrated Pest Management in Cultural Spaces
August 27 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) – Online: Connecting to Collections Care – This webinar provides an overview of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and focuses on how to build institutional support for it within cultural institutions. Attendees will learn which IPM tasks can be done by staff, when to involve pest management professionals, how to write effective contracts to meet IPM goals, and how to collaborate with service providers for safe and effective pest control. Ideal for those starting or improving an IPM program with strong institutional backing. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Leadership and Administration for History Organizations (Fall 2025) - Online Course
September 8 to November 2 – Online: American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) – This eight-week online course, taught by Anne Ackerson, covers governance and administrative structures, nonprofit status, mission and vision, board and staff roles and responsibilities, strategic planning, human resource management, and leadership for history organizations of all sizes and focuses. Participants will engage in weekly reading assignments, discussions, and biweekly online chats, and will complete a final assignment. Successful completion earns one credit toward the AASLH Small Museum Pro! certificate. Cost: $230 for most categories; $330 for nonmembers. Registration is open until August 18, 2025, with a 20 participant limit. Learn more »
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October 29 - November 1, 2025 |
September 10 - 12, 2025 |
September 17 - 20, 2025 |
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Deadline - October 3: Minnesota Historical Society - This program offers a paid residency lasting six to twelve months for Native artists practicing traditional arts. Established in 2013, the program supports recovery and continuation of traditional arts through study of MNHS collections and engagement with regional museums, peer artists, and elders. Artists receive financial support and resources to deepen their cultural practices and share knowledge with community members at the program’s end, fostering intergenerational transfer of traditional arts. Virtual Q&A sessions scheduled for August 13 and September 9 to provide program details and application guidance. Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: "Logging Museum," Cass Lake, MN (1982). Aka: Cass Lake Museum & Lyle's Logging Camp. 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.
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 August 25. Learn more about the project and request the survey form »
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub this week added 2,091 new issues and 38,638 new newspaper pages.
New publicly available titles & date spans:
New issues for the years 2022-2023 were also added to several existing current newspaper titles, available to view only in the MNHS Library.
History Center developing new museum experience
Winona Post - The Winona County History Center just completed a schematic plan for a new museum experience, thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Humanities Center with Minnesota Legacy Funds. A team of community curators, with help from Engage Winona and The Joy Labs, worked with History Center staff and exhibit designers to identify and prioritize themes, concepts, stories, people, events, and experiences for an entirely updated main exhibit hall at the History Center. Continue reading »
Window work continues at BCHS Museum
The New Ulm Journal - Wade Soine of SP Windows of Burnsville caulks a window at the Brown County Historical Society Museum Wednesday. Brown County commissioners approved SP Windows’ $343,726 low bid for new windows on the museum’s first and mezzanine levels in January. Continue reading »
Former rodeo queen made history, now documenting it
Pipestone County Star - 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 »
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Featured BookHow to Draw a Tree by David LaRochelle and Colleen Muske. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Book Launch |
Featured Article
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Featured Article
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Minnesota UnraveledA podcast series by the Minnesota Historical Society
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Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
Minnesota Main Streets |
Preservation Specialists Directory |
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