First phase of implementation of the Hidden Falls-Crosby Farm Master Plan expected to be completed in early 2019. Projects may include construction of buildings, installation of park amenities, paving of trails, paving of roads and parking lots, utility installation or relocation, grading, stormwater management, erosion control, lighting, signage, and landscaping.
Evaluation of Minnesota raptors, in rehabilitation and free ranging settings, for current or previous exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza virus to better understand outbreak impacts to raptor populations.
Legacy funds were used at the James J. Hill House for reproductions of two historic textiles: a Persian carpet in Hill's den and a canopy shade for the art gallery. The previous canopy, also a reproduction, was 28 years old, stained and faded. Both the canopy and the reproduction Persian carpet will be seen by all site visitors and will enhance the Hill House for decades to come.
To stabilize and conserve ten historic oil paintings (portraits of Minnesota Supreme Court justices) displayed in the St. Paul City Hall-Ramsey County Courthouse, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Partner Organizations: Historic St. Paul, The St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission and Ramsey County Historical Society.
Traditionally, the goal of historic properties surveys is to collect information to make determinations of National Register eligibility or local landmark designation. This ACHF project took that objective a step further.
This project encompasses phase two of the Alexander Ramsey House Revitalization project and expands the scope of work to other historic sites in need of redevelopment.
In particular, focused planning for the future of programs at Historic Fort Snelling will get underway and the Ramsey planning process will be shared with other historic sites in Minnesota.
The Historical Rulemaking Web Site will allow legislators, state agency staff, the Office of Administrative Hearings, and the general public to track the progress of administrative rulemaking from 1983 to date. The project involves extracting the public information contained in an internal rule tracking system maintained by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes and displaying the information on a public web site. In addition, the project involves scanning of additional historical documents, such as State Registers, and providing a method for historical documents in the possessio
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare construction documents for the preservation of State Bank of Clements, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Evaluated the status of the 110-year old north and south tower roofs on Landmark Center, the "Old Federal Court's Building" in downtown St. Paul. It is located at 75 W. Fifth St., anchoring the beautiful and historic Rice Park. The building was the first building in Minnesota listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, and it was extensively renovated in the 1970s to provide for a new use as an arts and cultural center for the community.
Historic Fort Snelling is an MNHS historic site and the state's first National Historic Landmark. A major project at the site prioritizes the adaptive reuse of two historic buildings concentrating on opportunities for public use, education, engagement and reflection. This project supports an MNHS strategic priority and speaks to the mission by returning historic facilities to public use while fostering new dialogues. A master plan was done in 2015, and predesign was completed in June 2016.
To coincide with the centennial of the United States entry into World War I, MNHS is developing a series of public programs, school programs, publications and online resources to increase awareness and understanding of the World War I era and its enduring legacy for Minnesota. Outreach to veterans communities and the active military is underway. An intensive series of public programs for lifelong learners was held in fall 2016.
Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps and MNHS began implementing lessons learned from the past two years to increase the viability of a historic preservation activity built on a conservation corps model. The first year focused on building the capacity of the corps through further expansion of service projects, skills training and networks.
The Historic Recognition Grant program is designed to preserve, recognize and promote the historic legacy of Minnesota, with a focus on commemoration of Minnesota's role in the U.S. Civil War.
MNHS, through a onetime competitive process, awarded nine grants to eight history-minded organizations in eight counties. The Historic Recognition Grants Program grants are based on project priorities delineated by the Governor's Civil War Commemoration Task Force.
To hire a qualified consultant to develop a Historic Structure Report for the former Arlington Hills Branch Library, a Carnegie Library listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The website currently under development will include an explanation of the digitization process and importance of the conservation project and 3D-scanning techniques performed during 2012 and 2013. It will also house the 3D images, providing a user-friendly way to search images by categories and learn the interpretation of the carvings.
The Minnesota Historical Society continued to work on revitalizing some of the state's most important and prominent historic sites. Program planners developed new programs at Historic Fort Snelling, Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post and the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site. Evaluation results showed that 81% of program guests surveyed felt that these programs increased their knowledge of Minnesota history, places and culture. 71% of guests responded that these programs increased their personal connection to history.
Partner: Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps
The Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps develops lifelong workforce skills by connecting young people to the earth, cultures, and traditions through historic preservation work and outdoor service. In partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society, a feasibility study was conducted and a business plan developed outlining the initiative's purpose and goals, detailing the proposed scope and strategies, and demonstrating that the initiative is financially viable.
Historic Fort Snelling is an MNHS historic site targeted for revitalization. This revitalization is one of MNHS's current strategic priorities. The Historic Fort Snelling revitalization project completed a master plan in June 2015. The predesign phase kicked off in September 2015 and continues through FY16. The project manager position, which coordinates various MNHS educational programs and building activities, was partially supported with Legacy funds.
The Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps and MNHS are refining the lessons learned from the fall 2014 demonstration project to increase the viability of a historic preservation activity built on a conservation corps model. The pilot phase focused on building
the capacity of the corps through diversification of revenue and expansion of service projects, skills training, and networks.
Through a competitive process, the Historic Recognition Grant Program awards grants to historical organizations statewide to support programs that preserve, recognize, and promote the historic legacy of Minnesota, with a focus on commemoration of Minnesota's role in the American Civil War.
In the third year of this project, MNHS staff continued to inventory and rehouse archaeological collections from Historic Fort Snelling. As part of MNHS involvement with the University of Minnesota's Heritage Collaborative, student interns spent the 2015 fall semester assisting project staff with inventory and research. Artifact data was shared with University faculty for use in their courses. To date, over 98,000 catalog records have been created, describing more than 180,000 artifacts recovered during archaeological excavations at Historic Fort Snelling.
