MNHS is working to strengthen its presence and visibility as a community resource to Minnesota's diverse communities by supporting a strategic tabling and sponsorship effort at 12 community events, such as Rondo Days, Twin Cities Jazz Festival and the Cultural Heritage and Social Action Summit. In addition, funds supported co-sponsoring and hosting diverse events, such as Twin Cities Black Film Festival and Somali Independence Day events at the Minnesota History Center.
To add to the known history of the Chinese experience in Minnesota in the years 1911-2011, the CAAPAM conducted oral history interviews of Chinese Americans to gather information about their memories of immigration and settlement in Minnesota in relation to historical events happening in the homeland after 1970.
The interviewees were chosen to represent diverse periods, backgrounds, lengths of residency and professions.
The MAAMCC created a pilot project that teaches students about the lives and times of noteworthy African American Minnesotans and their contributions to Minnesota and the Nation. The traveling exhibit, called Trunk-It (a museum without walls), presents an actor/docent with a trunk of history props, activities to perform and a story to tell of a Minnesota African American pioneer to elementary age students. Eight pioneers have been identified through research and have been chosen to be portrayed in a Trunk-It exhibit. Currently, two trunks have been completed: Emily O.
To provide access to arts and heritage education to fairgoers. The Aitkin County Agricultural Society enhanced their portable stage by adding additional equipment and a sound system. The fair was able to welcome three artistic performers, including a bluegrass band, a clown, and a caricature artist and purchase interactive items that are used in the new agricultural education center.
To highlight arts and cultural heritage at the Sherburne County Fair. Funds will be used to create a history book chronicling 125 years of the Sherburne County Fair, improve the lighting in the fine arts display area, and create a butterfly house to educate visitors about the dwindling population of Minnesota's State Butterfly, the Monarch.
A total of 19 interviews of Asian American-Pacific Islander immigrants were conducted in English and selected Asian Languages. The project successfully captured information about their immigration history, settling experience and their memories in relationships to historical events in North Minneapolis. Eight of the interviews were recorded with a digital video camcorder then the interviews were transcribed by language specialists, then translated into English.
The summary, transcripts and video recording will be preserved and made broadly accessible through:
MNHS strives to attract high school interns from underrepresented communities to encourage engagement and diversify the institution. Legacy funds supported four high school-age gallery assistants in spring 2016. These students received professional on-the-job experience interacting with visitors in the History Center galleries and at public events. Students contributed more than 300 hours to MNHS. Fifty percent of these students were from communities of color.
The Summer Legacy program supported four gallery assistants, beginning in FY16 and continuing into FY17.
In the fourth year of this project, MNHS staff completed inventory and rehousing of most artifacts excavated from Historic Fort Snelling between 1957 and 1981. The Collections Management System now has 118,500 records for Fort Snelling artifacts. Three hundred items were photographed and are now accessible to the public online. In 2016, an exhibit featuring patent medicine bottles found at Fort Snelling was developed and installed in the Fort Snelling Visitor Center.
Purpose of this project is to promote heritage tourism and public education of the City’s downtown area by creating an audio-visual tour of the downtown area’s historic charm and heritage value.
To improve access to arts and cultural heritage. The Kanabec County Fair enhanced the building which houses the open classes and the fine arts and cultural heritage displays. The building provides local artists and art viewers a better environment to display and appreciate art.
"Minnesota and the Civil War," a new 5,000-square-foot exhibit opening at the Minnesota History Center March 2, 2013, will reveal the words and actions of Minnesotans who lived during the war. Minnesota responded first in the nation and, fighting in almost every major battle, Minnesotans were among the most tested and honored in the Union Army. Stories of soldiers and their loved ones at home will be drawn from the Minnesota Historical Society's collections: letters, diaries, memoirs and reminiscences that capture the personal impact of this tumultuous period.
A new interpretive exhibit was installed in the North Gallery of the History Center of Olmsted County. The exhibit examines the interaction between culture, place and the environment. Comparisons between the natural and the man-made help to inform perceptions of home and the familiar. The public is able to explore the relationship of the built environment to the natural environment.
To enhance the spectator experience at the gazebo stage at the Wabasha County Fair. The fair provided a sun roof area for spectators to watch performances out of the sun.
