All Projects

A preliminary National Register assessment of Wayzata's Section Foreman House was prepared for the Wayzata Historical Society by a qualified historic preservation consultant. The final report included a description of the house, the context of its relationship to the Great Northern Railway and the city of Wayzata, the role of a section foreman and standard designs for section houses. The report was submitted to the MN State Historic Preservation Office for review. It was recommended that restoration commence before a National Register Nomination is completed.

SHAHS acquired shelving and conservation materials to re-organize, consolidate and store collections, especially artifacts documenting the Sacred Heart High School, using proper historical conservation methods. Improved care and management will extend the life of the resources stored in the archival library. Better organization makes the collections more useable to patrons and staff.

The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County used the funds to purchase 1223 linear feet of V-GRIP™ baked enamel on steel shelving to store their growing collection of archival materials. This project will have lasting implications for the professional care of the historical record of Clay County for many years to come.

To create a history mural at the Sherburne County Fair. The fair will collected photographs, dating back to the early day of the fair, to then be added to a mural by a commissioned artist.

To purchase a portable sound system to be used at stage. System will be used for arts and education demonstrations and for performances.

To bring new history and arts experiences to the Carlton County Fair. Projects will include building a structure with retractable sides to better display a historical Steam Engine, and hosting the non-profit community theater group, County Seat Theater.

In order to grow the capacity of the organization to preserve and interpret history a consultant was hired by the DCHV to lead selected members and the board through the Standards and Excellence Program for History Organizations' (StEPs) self-assessment program.

To grow the capacity of the organization to preserve and interpret history through a national training standard, the Firefighter's Hall and Museum completed four of six areas of the StEPs Program at the Bronze level. The areas completed were the Mission, Values and Governance, Management, Audience and Interpretation sections. The FHM does not have historic structures or landscapes so that area does not apply. The Collections area was too large to complete before the June deadline. The Museum plans to continue the StEPs work and the collections project is a top priority.

Archival storage boxes were purchased to re-house and properly store the city's historic collections located in the Kremer House Museum and Library. Steel storage shelves were purchased to house the boxes of photographs, newspapers and non-clothing items that are stored in the attic. Many volunteers assisted with the cleaning, organizing, boxing and labeling of items. The collections are now more accessible, including long forgotten and newly rediscovered items now available for use and/or reference as a result of this re-organization.

Partner Organizations: Anoka County Historical Society, Hennepin History Museum.

Suburbanization has reached nearly all corners of Hennepin and Anoka Counties. The two counties are bound together by the state's largest school district: Anoka-Hennepin. Working together, the Anoka and Hennepin County Historical Societies are gathering resources located in numerous repositories so that they, and future historians, will have a logical starting place from which to draw information about the suburbanization of Anoka and Hennepin counties.

The Minnesota Historical Society launched a new program to expand services supporting the work of local history organizations, especially in relation to the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants Program.

The Society sought out potential grant applicants, led grant-writing workshops, presented at 43 public meetings statewide and conducted onsite visits in approximately 40 communities.

Preservation professionals were commissioned to prepare a condition asssessment report to determine the scope and types of repairs needed to preserve the Swedish Mission Church, listed in the Natioanl Register of Historic Places. The report provides information for future restoration and potential usage for the historical building.

The grant funded the execution of four maps and the acquisition of ten photographs for reproduction in the book, A Thrilling Narrative of Indian Captivity, which is scheduled for release by the University of Nebraska Press in 2012. The addition of these maps and photos to the educational resources of the Pond Dakota Heritage Society helps to clarify the story of American-Dakota contact, especially in relationship to the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War.

A second opinion for a treatment proposal for the inspection certificate recovered from the shipwreck of the steamer Thomas Wilson was obtained by the Lake Superior Maritime Museum Association. The clearly written report, including detailed recommendations, was prepared by a qualified paper conservator. The LSMMA is now able to prioritize where this project fits into their Long Range Plan.

The Upper Sioux Community secured the services of a qualified consultant to assist in completing an application for certification as a Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO) for the National Park Service. Public input meetings were conducted as part of the preparation for the application. Having THPO status will support one of the leading Dakota communities' efforts to secure and document their history.

To increase access to Todd county history by improving ventilation and lighting in the Todd County Historical Society’s Satellite Museum.

This church, built in 1901 and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, had its electrical service updated. The main circuit breaker and subfeed panels were replaced. An outdoor electrical outlet was replaced and several more outlets were added to the interior. Larger supply wires were installed to improve capacity for future handicap accessible improvements to the building.

Editing/Transcription is the second of three projects documenting and preserving the Maritime Heritage Minnesota's historical/archaeological investigation and assessment of the USS Essex Shipwreck, listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Five out of twenty-five of the vessel's previously digitized log books were edited, combined into .pdf e-books, transcribed and processed which included the creation of metadata for the digital images. The information resulting from this project is available for public access on Internet Archive.

To create and implement curricula that meets Minnesota Education Standards and enables more thorough student access to veteran's history.

The Carver County Historical Society proposed to develop educational programs that would more fully utilize the newly redesigned Veterans Gallery. The programs were developed through a two-stage process. The first stage, developed for this grant, was fact finding in cooperation with Carver County educators. The second stage, would be program development.

To provide a program to honor Vietnam Vets from Pennington County. The fair will host a musician to perform at the fair, and with the help of the VFW and local Legion/Auxiliary, hold a program to honor veterans.

To provide the region free access to numerous arts, cultural, historical, and educational events and activities that were not available in the area. The Wabasha County Agricultural Fair held a children’s event called “Games that Require no Batteries,” and several workshops engaging all ages of fairgoers in local history, bluegrass music, and music of the Elvis era.

To offer new arts access and cultural heritage programming to both children and adults at the Wadena County Fair. Programming will include demonstrations in depression era toy making, finger knitting, bead work, leather work, growing container gardens, and a presentation on hoop dance, a Native American cultural performance.

To construct an amphitheater on the Wadena County fairgrounds. The amphitheater will be available to the community for cultural and education events sponsored by the Wadena County Agricultural Society, local community groups, schools, etc.

To offer new arts and cultural heritage programming at the Waseca County Free Fair. Programming will include a performance by a Minnesota band, a German heritage band, and Homeward Bound Theater.

To increase access to a variety of performance art at the Washington County Fair. Funds will be used to showcase a miming presentations by Theatre of Fools, a Native American dance demonstration by the Little Thunderbirds, and a comedy show by author Michael Perry, who discusses today’s small town fardmand family culture.

Improved the safety and the environment for historical artifacts by separating an exhibit fabrication area.

An old coal room was retrofitted with a compatible reuse where the intake has been reversed to exhale. This special facility will enable the Winona County Historical Society to be more intentional and responsive with its exhibits, which before the addition were fairly static. Their stated intention in the final report is to have exhibits that change more often and therefore prompt the Society’s building to be used a more frequent gathering space.

The DMF has completely redesigned its website to broaden and improve public experience and increase accessibility to Boundary Waters history by illustrating the life of Dorothy Molter. The updated website provides searchable internet access to its archives, collects and shares memories of Dorothy Molter, has enabled news updates and improved the ease of online membership renewals and product sales.

Go to: http://rootbeerlady.com

The Wilder Foundation Archive was made more accessible to the public as a result of building on initial efforts by organizing and preserving fifty-nine (59) cubic feet of archival materials. The materials were inventoried and digitized, preservation issues were addressed and remedied and finding aids were created and made available. Some historic documents were donated to the Minnesota Historical Society, the University of Minnesota Social Work Archive, Stillwater Historical Society and the NPRHA Archives East End.

An online timeline of legislation that has significantly affected women from Suffrage (1920) to the present was published. The entries are listed in chronological order. Each point on the timeline has a summary of the legislation and is linked to documentation related to the law's passage. Specific legislation can be indentified in conjunction with how many female legislators were holding office at that time.

The personal recollections of six women who have sought or held office in Minnesota were videotaped.  These oral histories speak of the barriers, biases, challenges and opportunities they faced in politics. The recorded interviews are permanent additions to the Minnesota Historical Society archives. They were also used in a 30 minute broadcast television program on TPT (Twin Cities Public Television).

As part of a larger project to create a documentary on women's political history in Minnesota, historic footage, photographs, news clips and portions of taped oral history interviews were assembled and edited. The project produced a thirty-minute video documentary prepared for broadcast on Minnesota public television stations. AAUW owns the copyright and has offered programs and DVD copies to communities statewide, including a copy sent to the Minnesota historical Society.

To offer a new exhibit in the fair’s conservation building on 4-H and paint a mural related to the new exhibit. The Yellow Medicine County Fair has purchased display cases for their new 4-H exhibit. The exhibit consists of 4-H items from the past and present and the mural provides a history of county fairs.