The recently formed Central Minnesota Regional History Group met on January 8 at the Mille Lacs County Historical Society’s depot museum in Princeton. The group includes Benton, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, and Wright counties. The group shared ideas for programs and discussed a shared social media presence. After the meeting, the group received a museum tour from MLCHS volunteer Barry Schreiber.
Spotlighted Project: Civil War Memorial Conservation Treatment
The restoration project included the removal of graffiti and the restoration of the original monument using grant funds; and various site enhancements such as tree trimming, concrete pad repair, buffer zone creation, and installation of security lighting paid for from the City's General Fund.
The Civil War Soldiers Monument, dedicated in 1892 in honor of 559 Carver County soldiers who perished during the Civil War, stands in City Square Park, a prominent downtown location in Waconia. Despite its structural stability, the monument suffered from several structural issues, including an exposed, non-original mild steel armature and spacers at its core. There were also many disfiguring surface problems including graffiti and corrosion.
Following the restoration by a conservator, the statue now stands securely in place, resilient against the Minnesota elements. In addition to the restoration work, new features like a concrete pad, lighting, and fencing were added to enhance the security of the monument within City Square Park.
This monument has been a legacy in the City of Waconia for many years and will continue to be with the work completed. The legacy of those who have served and are recognized on the monument will be remembered by all visitors to the park for years to come.
Recipient: City of Waconia
Funded amount: $60,000
Project Details
Grants Office Webinar: Museum & Archival Storage
March 21 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Learn what types of storage-related projects qualify for funding with the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants. Gain insights into the initial planning stages of a storage renovation project. Understand the required attachments and application process for this specific grant program. Get information on appropriate standards and materials for museum and archival storage.
Ideal for museum and archive professionals seeking funding for storage improvements or anyone interested in learning about best practices for museum and archival storage. Presented by Outreach Conservator Megan Brakob Narvey
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: (US) +1 386-361-3086 PIN: 420 891 978#
Small Grant Deadline
The next small grant deadline (requests of $10,000 or less) for the MHCHG program is Friday, April 12, 2024.
This week's blog post is from Gammelgården Museum of Scandia. Have a blog? Let us know!
Behind-the-Scenes of Documenting Artifacts
Since November 2022, the Gammelgården staff has been photographing the museum’s artifacts to share on Facebook and on a searchable database on the website. The photographs also will be used on a new museum collections software program. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from Brown County Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Carlton County Historical Society.
Submit your history organization's news and events to localhistorynews@mnhs.org.
Presentation & Event: Museum Celebrates Women in Aviation
March 16 @ 12 to 1:30 pm - Eden Prairie: Wings of the North Air Museum - Three spokespersons will be on hand to help tell the story of women pilots. Additionally, the museum will celebrate the 114th anniversary of Madame Elise Raymonde de LaRoche of France becoming the first woman to receive a government-issued pilot’s license. Location: Flying Cloud Airport. Learn more »
Presentation: Blue Earth County’s Main Streets – Mapleton
March 16 @ 1 to 2 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County History Center - Main Streets are the central hub of small-town life, serving as the focal point for commerce, social gatherings, and community engagement. From Maple River Heritage Inc, Coleen and Sandi will showcase Mapleton’s Main Street during this month’s program. This program is happening in correlation with our latest exhibit Blue Earth County’s Main Streets. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Exhibit Open House: Peter, Ola, and Per
March 16 @ 2 to 4 pm - Spring Grove: Giants of the Earth Heritage Center - An open house for the updated exhibit on the life and work of cartoonist Peter Rosendahl, in particular, his Norwegian-American comic strip "Han Ola og han Per." There will be a short talk by Bill Fried about Peter J. Rosendahl and the exhibit. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Presentation: Resonance of Scottish Highland Bagpipes
March 21 @ 12 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County Historical Society. - Bagpipe enthusiasts and history enthusiasts alike are invited to embark on a musical journey. John Egelhof will unravel the history of Scottish Highland bagpipes, the National Instrument of Scotland, dating back to 1400. Discover the intricate details of bagpipe construction, learn about the materials that bring these instruments to life. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Round Table: Tales from Trails of the Civil War from the Road
March 21 @ 7 pm - Northfield: Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable - Presenter, Lou Stender of Faribault will talk of his extensive travel concerning the Civil War. Coffee and treats for all. Location: Northfield Township Hall. For more information call 507-459-3140.
Event: Merge in March - Dance Performance and Post-Show Conversation
March 24 @ 2 pm - Minneapolis: Telling Queer History - Come experience the dance-theater-magic along with a Post-Show Experience/Conversation. After the show, gather for a low-impact movement exploration led by local artist Erika Thorne, stories from Taja, Mathew, and Erika on how their LGBTQ+ identity influences their work and artistic practices, and a community Q&A session. Cost: $35. Learn more »
Presentation: Women's Suffrage in Minnesota
March 28 @ 6:30 pm - Moorhead: Moorhead Public Library - Area Minnesota women who fought for Women's Suffrage will be highlighted at a presentation featuring historian Markus Krueger. Krueger is with the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. The presentation will also be offered at the Climax-Shelly School, Climax, MN on Thursday, March 28 @ 11:30 am and the Fertile Public Library, Fertile, MN on Friday, March 29 @ 2 pm. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Listings: History & Heritage Events | Historic Exhibits | Lectures & Workshops
Submit an event »
Highlighted Museum: Hay Lake School, operated by the Washington County Historical Society, Scandia, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.
Would you like to connect with students, support your community, and learn about history? Minnesota History Day is looking for judges to be a part of Minnesota students’ successes as they learn and grow through History Day.
Specifically, we are recruiting for the South Central Regional History Day contest at Minnesota State University - Mankato on March 19 from 4 to 8 pm. There are no special qualifications to be a judge, no history degree required, only to be 18 or older. There is a training video for judges to watch and an orientation the day of the contest. As a judge, you would be part of a team that evaluates one of the following; exhibits, websites, documentaries, and performances. If you have a preference, let us know, and we try our best to pair new judges with experienced judges. Each team would evaluate about 8 projects or less. We also provide a light dinner and a thank you gift. More information »
Want to try this? Then sign up! There are other contests throughout the state throughout March as well, so if you would like to be a judge at more than one contest we will welcome you with open arms! Sign up today »
If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to Rebecca Lofgren at rebecca.lofgren@mnhs.org or 651-338-9221.
What: South Central History Day Event
When: March 19, 2024
Where: Minnesota State University - Mankato
Time: 4 pm: Judges Orientation (required)
5-7 pm: Judging
8:30 pm: Awards Ceremony (Optional)
Why: Connect with students, support your community, and learn about history! A light dinner is provided.
Whose Research, Whose Rules? How to Create Agreements in Community-University Partnerships
March 26 @ 3 to 5 pm (CT) - Minneapolis, in-person and online: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - The workshop led by Xun Yu helps researchers and community members develop ideas for equitable community-university partnerships. The workshop covers the concepts of community agreements, Memorandum of Understandings, and common colonial assumptions in community collaborative work. Xun is a Ph.D. student in Comparative and International Development Education and a graduate research assistant for the Liberal Arts Engagement Hub. Location: Pillsbury Hall, University of MN. Cost: Free and open to the public. Registration required »
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Each year, the Association of Midwest Museums honors members throughout the Midwest region for leadership, career achievements, and best practices with the following awards:
Distinguished Career Award; Promising Leadership Award: Best Practices Award: Groundbreakers Award. AMM Membership is required. All nominees must be current individual or institutional members of the Association of Midwest Museums or employees of a member museum. Learn more »
Looking for inspiration or want to learn more about the format of our virtual celebration events? Learn more about past recipients and events »
Grants Promote K-12 Education Projects Addressing the Legacy of Slavery
April 15 - (Deadline): 1619 Education Impact Grant - The 1619 Project illuminates the legacy of slavery in the contemporary United States, and highlights the contributions of Black Americans to every aspect of American society. Learn more »
Funds Available for Humanities R & D
May 21 - (Deadline): National Endowment for the Humanities - The Research and Development program supports projects that address major challenges in preserving or providing access to humanities collections and resources. Learn more »
The American Association for State and Local History is looking for proposals for their AASLH book series. They are especially interested in hearing from potential authors with expertise in the following areas: Management and Leadership, Diversity and Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Navigating Crisis, Community Engagement, and Educational Outreach. Learn more »
An Interview with John See: Labor Historian and Video Innovator on Nearly 40 Years of Service to the Minnesota Labor Movement
Workday Magazine – A Minnesota labor historian, videographer, video archivist, and digital innovator leaves a legacy of dedication, enthusiasm, and accessibility in the Minnesota labor movement. Continue reading »
Eagan’s Caponi spearheading project, pagan archives
Sun This week – Growing up in Eagan, Renata Caponi was a preteen when she started studying witchcraft. Wescott Library was a fertile source of knowledge. “They had a surprisingly large number of books on that subject,” said Caponi, now 39. “I would ride my bike there, and I may have read most of the books they had on the subject.” Continue reading »
Public input sought for Scandia arts and heritage center projects
Country Messenger – The Scandia Heritage Alliance (SHA), a nonprofit group of residents, is leading an effort to create an arts and heritage center within the city of Scandia. To get public perspective, they are asking for opinions on different aspects of the center, from exhibit ideas to amenities. Continue reading »
LANDMARKS: Minnesota Collections Lenny Tvedten - Martin Co. Museum - Fairmont, MN
Pioneer PBS – In Fairmont, Director Lenny Tvedten showed us around the Martin County museum’s collection, looking at everything from a vintage motorcycle to an iron lung.
We also met Rhonda Rudolph who donated her uncle's bird egg collection to the museum. Watch video »
Civil War officer brought formerly enslaved family to Minnesota
Star Tribune – ...When Brad was a resident at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in the late 1980s, he visited the Dodge County Historical Society in Mantorville and asked if they had any information about Alonzo Edgerton. The docent pointed to a large portrait of the bearded pioneer hanging on the wall. Continue reading »
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Featured BookA Murder On The Hill: The Secret Life and Mysterious Death of Ruth Munson Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author Event-Book Launch |
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Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
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