Field Note

MNHS staff reviewed progress on the Wasioja School Rehabilitation project. Work included limestone repointing, window restoration, and placement of a new small cupola north of the school. Roof, fascia, and window trim repairs were underway to address leaks. The tour included the first-floor polling room with historical items and a second-floor storage room showing moisture damage. Plans for the front porch included paint analysis based on historical photographs to determine appropriate colors. The school is part of the Wasioja Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Heritage Preservation Grants

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.

OCTOBER Grants Open House
October 2 - 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 YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the Minnesota Digital Library News. Have a blog? Let us know!

• Update on the Minitex Wikimedia Project
  Over the past year, Minitex staff continued to explore the feasibility and impact of adding digital content to Wikimedia Commons, moving from a pilot project in 2023 to participating in the DPLA Wikimedia project in 2024/2025. The overall goal of our most recent project remained the same—to increase discovery of Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) digital collections. To keep the project manageable, we recruited 12 organizations that had eligible content in the Minnesota Digital Library. They included:
• Bethel University
• Blue Earth County Historical Society
• Carleton College
• Hennepin County Library
• Minitex
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Nicollet County Historical Society
• Norwegian American Historical Society
• Saint Paul Public Library
• St. Cloud State University
• Stillwater Public Library
• Weavers Guild of Minnesota 

After DPLA uploaded their images to Wikimedia Commons, participants learned how to edit and add images to Wikipedia articles, asked questions, and shared tips. They enhanced Wikipedia articles by adding historic images to complement the history sections on Wikipedia pages, and in some cases were able to add images to Wikipedia articles that did not have an image. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Northern Bedrock Returns to Gammelgården for Restoration Work - Gammelgården Museum of Scandia
• From the President - October 2025 - Danish American Center
• Lily Lorenzen Scholarship — 2025 Winner Tara Sweeney - American Swedish Institute
• Fair Store, Golden Rule, Masinter Brothers, and Sagen’s - Jim Froemming/Hometown Focus
• The Argo Bell - Washington County Historical Society
• The Day Camp That Launched St. Paul’s Adaptive Recreation Program - Ramsey County Historical Society

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• Disasters of Brown County with Brown County Historical Society - New Ulm Public Library
• Project Got Your Back Plane Pull - Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing
• Erik Simula, Arrowhead Journey - Gunflint Trail Historical Society Chik-Wauk Museum
• The Dakota Indian Internment at Fort Snelling - Brown County Historical Society
• Showcasing the Towns - Episode 5 - History Center of Freeborn County

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Program Facilitator I - Minnesota State Capitol

LOCAL

• Executive Director - History Center of Freeborn County, Albert Lea, MN
• Interpretive Planner - 106 Group, St. Paul, MN
• Museum Collections Photographer - Goldstein Museum of Design, Falcon Heights, MN
• Gift Officer (Corporate Partnerships) - Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN
• Early-Career Architectural Historian - Stantec, Minneapolis, MN
• Mid-Level Architectural Historian - Stantec, Minneapolis, MN
• Cultural Resource Archaeologist - Minnesota Department of Transportation, St. Paul, MN
• Manager, Licensing Sales - Flying Fish Exhibitions, Minnesota/Remote

REGIONAL

• Oral History Archivist - Wisconsin Veterans Museum, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Madison, WI
• Emerging Technologies Archivist (Archivist I) - University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
• Custodian - Museum department, City of Sioux City, Sioux City, IA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Communications and Marketing Specialist - DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, Chicago, IL
• Graphic Designer - Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Alsdorf Senior Research Associate - Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Chief Engineer - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
• Museum and Store Manager - Sock Monkey Museum, Long Grove, IL
• Extra Help Gallery Assistant - Illinois State University, Normal, IL
• Education Specialist - Discovery Center Museum, Rockford Park District, Rockford, IL
• Director, Krannert Art Museum - Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
• Executive Director - National Building Arts Center, Sauget, IL
• Specialist, Education and Engagement - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Associate, Visitor Services - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN
• Vice President and Chief Advancement and Communications Officer - Conner Prairie Museum, Fishers, IN
• Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy - Conner Prairie Museum, Fishers, IN
• Preparator - Toledo Museum of Art - Toledo, OH
• Editor of Museum Publications - Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
• Historian 9-P11 (Project Reviewer) - Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Lansing, MI
• Museum Registrar/Collections Manager - Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
• Digital Content Producer - Missouri History Society, St. Louis, MO
• Grants and Procurement Officer - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE
• Assistant/Associate Curator of European Art - Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, NE
• Chief Advancement Officer - Kiewit Luminarium, Omaha, NE
• Indigenous Knowledge and Culture Specialist - Museum of Dufferin, Mulmur, ON
• Marketing and Content Coordinator - Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum, Ottawa, ON
• Head of Doon Heritage Village - Region of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Stick Band at the Southtown Portable School building in 1930.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Robbinsdale Historical Society.

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Queering Indigeneity
Now through August 16, 2026 - St. Paul: Minnesota Museum of American Art - This yearlong exhibition in the Nancy and John Lindahl Gallery explores the intersections of Indigenous and queer identities through contemporary art. Learn more »

Father Pierz Memorial High School Graduation Photos, 1953–1968
October 1 - Little Falls: Morrison County Historical Society at the Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum - Explore a new temporary exhibit featuring donated graduation photo collections and stories from Father Pierz Memorial High School, which served area parishes from 1952 to 1968. For more information call 320-632-4007.

Creative Drawing: Trolls of Autumn Mystery with Carrie Finnigan
October 2 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Explore creative drawing in this hands-on workshop with artist Carrie Finnigan, inspired by the magical theme of autumn trolls. Cost: $83.34 members/$89.83 general. Learn more »

Shadows at the Crossing: Lantern Tours at Traverse des Sioux
October 3 & 4 @ evening tours - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Experience Traverse des Sioux after dark through immersive guided lantern-lit tours featuring costumed interpreters sharing stories of the people who shaped the Minnesota Territory. Learn more »

Reflections Series: The War at Home - Minnesota during the Great War, 1914-1920
October 7 @ 6:30 to 7:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Explore Minnesota’s home front experience during World War I in this Reflections Series program. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The History of the LGBTQ+ Community in Golden Valley
October 9 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society with Golden Valley Pride Festival and the City of Golden Valley DEI Commission - Join a roundtable discussion honoring and documenting the 50-year history of the LGBTQ+ community in Golden Valley, featuring community leaders and advocates. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Civil War Roundtable: From the Second Minnesota - Personal Reflections of a Private Soldier
October 9 @ 1:30 pm - Litchfield: Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall - Director Danelle Erickson shares the journey of Minnesota soldier T.H. Pendergast from Fort Snelling to Atlanta, offering insights into the monotony, terrors, and occasional humor of the Civil War. Learn more »

“They Were Related Somehow!” Proofing Family Stories to Connect with Gary Heyn
October 9 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Explore immigration history and genealogy as Gary Heyn shares insights on German farm families who emigrated from Posen to Minnesota and Wisconsin. Cost: Free for members, $5 for nonmembers. For more information call 507-332-2121.

Queer History Talk: Intersectionality & Liberation Histories
October 10 @ 5:30 to 8:30 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - OutFront MN and the Austin MN Pride Committee present Chris Breault, Greater MN Community Organizer, for a program exploring intersectional and liberation histories. Kick off Austin’s Pride weekend with a Pride Happy Hour featuring drinks and snacks. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Great Decisions - The Future of NATO and European Security
October 10 @ 10 to 11:30 am - Online: Ramsey County Library - Explore the future of NATO and European security in this Great Decisions discussion program. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Victorian Funeral at the Alexander Faribault House
October 10 & 11 @ 6:30 to 8 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Step into the Victorian Era at the historic Faribault House and learn about death customs of the 19th century with curator Jenna Nelson. Space is limited to 10 per tour. Cost: $10 members, $15 nonmembers. For more information call 507-332-2121.

Exhibit Opening for Winston: A Woman’s Fight for Freedom in Minnesota
October 11 @ 11:30 am to 1:30 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Celebrate the opening of this new exhibit highlighting Eliza Winston’s fight for freedom and resilience in Minnesota history. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Storytelling from the Back Roads of Cook County
October 11 @ 2 to 4 pm - Grand Marais: Historical Alliance of Cook County at Arrowhead Center for the Arts - Hear speakers from Cook County’s historical societies share stories from the Gunflint Trail, Schroeder, Tofte, and beyond in this collaborative storytelling event. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Third Annual Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ Water Blessing
October 13 @ 10 to 11 am - Plymouth: Hennepin History Museum and community partners - Join the annual water blessing ceremony honoring Ȟaȟá Wakpádaŋ (Bassett Creek) with song, land acknowledgment, and updates from the Bassett Creek Oral History Project. Indigenous participants will share ways to care for local lands and waters. Cost: Free. Learn more »

An Evening with Polish Cinema: Two Sisters
October 14 @ 6 to 8 pm - St. Paul: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota at Landmark Center - Enjoy a screening of Two Sisters as part of PACIM’s Evening with Polish Cinema series in the F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium. Location: Landmark Center.  Learn more »

Amelia Earhart: A Family Perspective
October 14 @ 2 to 3:30 pm - Willmar: Willmar Public Library with Kandiyohi County Historical Society - Nancy Earhart Burt, Amelia’s second cousin, presents a two-part program exploring Amelia Earhart’s life, theories about her disappearance, and her enduring legacy. Cost: Free. Learn more »

MN Main Street Deep Dive: Disability 101
October 15 @ 10 to 11 am - Minneapolis: Rethos - This training covers the dimensions of disability, employment statistics for people with disabilities, common barriers in the workplace, best practices for making workplaces accessible and inclusive, and talent acquisition and retention. Cost: $10. Learn more »

Looking Back 150 Years with Doug Ohman
October 15 @ 6:30 to 7:30 pm - Warroad: Roseau County Museum, Warroad Heritage Center, and Lake of the Woods County Historical Society - Historian and storyteller Doug Ohman brings Minnesota’s pioneer life to life with images and stories connecting attendees to the people and experiences from 150 years ago. Location: Warroad High School Theater. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Oakland Cemetery (North End) Walking Tour
October 15 @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Ramsey County Historical Society - Discover the history and stories of Oakland Cemetery on this guided walking tour through one of St. Paul’s oldest burial grounds. Cost: $10. Learn more »

America's 250th: Article I – The Legislative Branch: Power of the Commerce Clause
October 16 @ 6 to 8 pm - South St. Paul: Dakota County Historical Society, Lawshe Memorial Museum - Explore the legislative power of the Commerce Clause and its impact on American governance in this informative program. Cost: $5 members/$10 general. Learn more »

Flashlight Tours at the Warden’s House Museum
October 17 & 18 @ 6 pm, 6:45 pm, & 7:30 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Experience the haunted history of the Warden’s House with hour-long flashlight tours after dark. Hear true tales of terror and tragedy from the original Minnesota State Prison, including legends of inmate apparitions and historic battles. Cost: $35. Learn more »

National Coming Out Day Celebration & History Harvest
October 18 @ 12 to 3 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Celebrate LGBTQIA+ history in Goodhue County with light refreshments, a community collage, a queer memorial, and a special exhibit from the Minnesota Historical Society about their Greater Minnesota Two-Spirit & LGBTQIA+ History Map. Guests are encouraged to bring items or donate digital copies for the museum's archive, and staff will be available to record coming-out stories in private. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Finding Homes for Our Treasures
October 20 @ 7 to 9 pm - Minneapolis: Linden Hills History Study Group at St. John’s Episcopal Church - Learn about preserving and placing treasured historical items in appropriate homes to ensure their stories endure. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Centennial Banquet
October 25 @ 5 to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Norwegian American Historical Association - Join NAHA members and friends in celebrating the centennial with a program featuring award-winning playwright and storyteller Kevin Kling, and music by Ole Olsson’s Oldtime Orkestra. Location: McNamara Event Center. Cost: $150. Learn more »

Veterans Day Film Festival 2025
November 11 @ 12 to 5 pm - Statewide Minnesota: Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum - Communities across Minnesota come together for a free film festival honoring the service and sacrifice of Minnesota’s veterans. Presented with Lakeland PBS and Pioneer PBS, the festival features special matinee screenings that highlight veterans' stories, courage, and legacy. 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: Washburn-Zittleman House Museum, operated by the Spring Valley Community Historical Society, Spring Valley, MN.
Photograph by A. E. Crane. National Archives and Records Administration.

Lost Region Recovery Project Conference
November 15 @ 8 am to 6:45 pm - Sioux Falls: Middle West Review - This academic conference held at the Washington Pavilion brings scholars and community members together to address challenges facing Midwestern studies, foster open dialogue, and plant seeds for renewal and growth in the field. The schedule features short presentations on the region’s history, culture, and identity, and panel discussions on reviving scholarship and building community. Location: Schulte Room, Washington Pavilion. Cost: $40. Learn more »

The Museum Summit
October 15 & 16 @ - Online: American Alliance of Museums - A two-day virtual summit bringing together museum professionals to explore critical issues and future directions for the field. Cost: Varies. Learn more »

Evolving Membership Models: A CMA Case Study & Collaborative Discussion
October 20 @ 9 am (CT) - Online: Ohio Museums Association - Explore evolving membership models through a Cleveland Museum of Art case study and engage in collaborative discussion. Cost: $15 members/$20 nonmembers. Learn more »

AASLH History Hour
October 28 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - A monthly program offering historical insights and discussions for the public history community. Cost: Free for members/$5 nonmembers. Learn more »

Transforming Business Models
October 29 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Learn strategies for adapting and strengthening your nonprofit’s business model to ensure long-term sustainability. Cost: $75. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• How Do Museums Resist? - MuseumExpert.org

UPCOMING STATE and REGIONAL EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Support Available for Professional Theatres and Dance Companies 
The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States. Learn more »

Northwest Area Foundation
An invitation-based grantmaking process focusing on building racial, social, and economic justice for Native Americans, communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and people in rural areas. Learn more »

McKnight Foundation: Arts & Culture Grant Program
This program aims to empower Minnesota's working artists and culture bearers, recognizing their vital role in fostering creativity, diversity, and justice in the community. Through a mix of grantmaking, fellowships, and collaboration, the program supports structures that equip artists to practice, produce, and lead. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Steam engine, coal tender, and passenger car at the Tower Depot Museum, Tower, MN. (ca. 1980). 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.

Steele County Historical Society preparing for 2026 exhibition, permanent feature
Owatonna Peoples Press - Next year is still a few months away, but the staff at the Steele County Historical Society are already hard at work preparing for next year’s exhibit. For 2026, the Steele County History Center will feature a new exhibit called “Land, Air, Water: Celebrating Conservation and Preservation in Steele County.” Continue reading »

Beltrami County History Center Reacts to Funding Cuts After Budget Vote
Lakeland PBS - Last week on September 16, the Beltrami County Board voted 4-1 to set the preliminary budget and levy for 2026. That included cutting 42% of community service funding, including money that goes to the Beltrami County Historical Society and its History Center in Bemidji. Watch video »

Central Minnesota Company Restoring Submarine Parts for New Veterans Museum
KNSI – A second central Minnesota company is helping bring the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley to life ahead of its planned 2026 grand opening. C4 Welding in Sauk Rapids is currently restoring the sail and rudder from the decommissioned USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the first Navy ship named for the Twin Cities. The Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine served from 1984 to 2008 before being sent to the Naval boneyard in Puget Sound, Washington. Continue reading »

Featured Book The House on Rondo, by Debra J. Stone. University of Minnesota Press. Book Launch Date: October 11 @ 1 pm Location: Black Garnet Books, St. Paul, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History Local Government and Local History Volume 9, Issue 3, 1928	Featured Article MNopedia Strutwear Knitting Company Strike, 1935–1936 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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