All Projects

To provide an additional stage for area artists and educators to showcase their talents and knowledge. Arts in the Northland will encompass a diverse group of artists and educators to offer educational and hands on experiences for fairgoers. Historical, traditional, and modern forms of art are all to be a part of the Arts in the Northland.

To provide a variety of arts and cultural heritage programming opportunities at the Mille Lacs County Fair. A local resident family with success participating in State and National fiddle contests, will assist with the planning and implementation of a fiddle contest and a workshop. A Native American Showcase will allow the Mille Lacs County Fair to broaden its cultural offerings by including an under-represented segment of the county's population in its activities. The showcase will feature Native American dance, song, and drumming.

The book, "Backward Glances" by Lawrence Sunsdahl (1982), about the history of Stephen, Minnesota was updated and republished. It is a collection of articles printed in newspapers and periodicals over a twenty-two year period (1989-2010) about the area and its residents. The author, a lifelong resident of Stephen, had compiled information gathered from newspapers, microfilm and personal contacts.

Thirty monitors were installed to measure moisture readings in the upper reaches of the Basilica of St. Mary. Restoration projects had been put on hold due to previous water infiltration and the damage that was caused by saturation of masonry walls and ceiling plaster. Such infiltration takes a long time to dry. There were concerns that plaster was continuing to absorb moisture from the attic insulation or the masonry walls.

To showcase the history and heritage of logging in Minnesota.

To update and enhance cultural heritage exhibits at the Cass County Fair. Projects will include brightening display areas, installing speakers, and removing outdated displays to replace with new exhibits of art and cultural artifacts from the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwa and other pieces relating to regional heritage.

Preservation of a historically important collection of photographs, taken for the purposes of insurance underwriting in the mid-1950's, was the goal of this project. Appropriate storage was researched and determined. Archival grade sleeves and storage boxes were obtained. An inventory of all photographs was performed, cataloged and entered into a professional software database. Digital imaging of the original photographic prints provides researchers with a sustainable alternative to viewing the prints.

With the grant the Northfield Public Library was able to research, write and published a centennial history of the Northfield Carnegie Library entitled "Everlasting Influences:  The Centennial History of the Northfield Carnegie Public Library 1910-2010."

To offer hands-on art workshops with local artists. The Clay County Fair will hold hour-long classes with Melissa Kossick and Steve Stark, for both children and adults, on portrait-painting, painting with fingers, pointillism, collage, and local historical drawing. The project is meant to have lasting impact on participants by instilling interest and confidence in order to inspiring them to pursue more art projects on their own.

To preserve the stories known only to older members of the community a narrative history of Silver Bay, Minnesota was compiled using interviews of longtime residents. The students of William M. Kelley High School recorded and transcribed 15 hours of small-group and individual interviews of 44 early and former residents of the town including officials and employees of Reserve Mining Company. These interviewees relate their experiences of living and working in the area. Silver Bay was established as a "company town" in the late 1950's and remained as such into the early 1980's.

The Dakota immersion camp will last for nine weeks, beginning June 7, 2010 and ending on August 6th, 2010. It is expected that there will be 25 participants at the camp. Specific camp activities include: speaking, listening, and interacting in Dakota. Going on field trips; nature, culture, others. Preparing and eating meals. Participating in community services. Attending Dakota culture presentations. Mentoring children with Dakota play. Nurturing community garden. Playing games; moccasin, lacrosse, other. Learning and participating in Dakota singing and dancing, as appropriate.

The grant was to research content, write, design and fabricate 10 interpretive panels at six sites along the MN River Valley to better tell the stories of the MN River Valley, specifically of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862. This is Part 1 of an overall interpretation of sites related to the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862.

To purchase an interactive, demonstration milking cow to help teach children about dairy farming.

Fifteen Minnesota cartoonists were interviewed, recorded and the recordings transcribed for an oral history project conducted by the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Interviewees were selected to represent the history of cartooning in Minnesota from the 1940's to 2011.

To create an area that will improve the visual impact of heritage hand-crafted arts, art (drawing/painting) and culinary departments and to create a demonstration area. Demonstration area will have a stage constructed for programs and presentations that allows an audience to learn and be inspired to preserve the heritage of various arts.

A comprehensive report, including three options for new service, was developed by a consortium of professionals for a new HVAC system for the Plummer House of the Arts. This group of professionals consisted of an AIA/LEED certified architect, an HVAC engineer, an historical consultant and a forester. The Henry S. Plummer House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains pieces of art and furnishings requiring museum quality climate control.

The final edit, of a manuscript describing the work of women of the Eastern bands of the Dakota Nation, was prepared by the author/project director for submission to the Minnesota Historical Society Press for publication.

The story of how contact and conflict with Europeans and European Americans, war and forced relocation changed how these women retained the knowledge and traditions of their grandmothers is tied to the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 and carries forward to today.

To organize a fiddler's contest of all ages at the 2012 fair. Contest will also include musical entertainment, two hours before the contest, by a bluegrass band.

Partner Organization: Minnesota Geospatial Information Office.

In partnership with the Minnesota Geospatial Information Office, the Minnesota Historical Society is adding geographical markers to more than 120,000 of the Society's historic photographs.

One outcome of this initiative will be the creation of a web experience that will allow students and the public to use "place" as a gateway for discovering other collections materials.