To enhance and expand the fair’s educational exhibits and cultural performances. The history of Goodhue County, the state, and the nation, was shared through demonstrations and displays provided by the Historical Society, Prairie Island Indian Community and individual artists that specialize in early American crafts. History of music and different styles of music were provided by various musical artists. The art of dance was highlighted with workshops given by a local dance studio.
Three consultants with historic preservation, architectural and structural engineering expertise were contracted to conduct a structural assessment of the Grant County Courthouse concrete slab floors. They collected and analyzed data through a detailed visual survey of the floor slabs, materials testing using non-destructive methods and performing engineering analysis. Recommendations were made for the retrofit of the floor slabs.
The city hired a qualified historian to research and prepare materials for a Guide highlighting the historic resources of the city. The goal of the project was to make residents and visitors more aware and more appreciative of the historical and cultural significance of downtown Chaska's buildings. They include a National Register Historic District (Walnut Street), seven buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places and over 50 buildings listed on the Local Register.
The GTHS hired a conractor who: 1. Transcribed 32 recorded oral interviews of residents of the Gunflint Trail. 2. Conducted further interviews (to be recorded and transcribed as well) of many more area residents, some in their 80's and 90's. 3. Digitized all oral histories and transcriptions and entered them into PastPerfect Software.
To offer aspects of Minnesota’s heritage that fairgoers normally would not be able to enjoy. The Hennepin County Fair offered performances and demonstrations in storytelling, clogging, old time string music, blacksmith, potter, dog sled, textile creation, knitting, weaving and wood carving. The storyteller, Bob Gasch, told and acted out stories about Minnesota’s settlement period including Johnny Appleseed, and more and the cloggers demonstrated a historical style of dance from the early settlement of Minnesota.
Professional planning services were used to assist with the development of the Baudette Depot Historic Project to include preservation and display of Canadian National Railway artifacts, historical documents and various other memorabilia in a self-guided interpretive exhibit highlighting the importance of railway transportation in Minnesota's Canadian border history and settlement of the region.
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 provide heritage music and arts programming for school age children at the fair. The Houston County Fair enhanced their sound system and introduced a Polka band. The objective of this project is to enhance the arts with the involvement of the youth and preserve the history of the fair.
An interpretive exhibit was created with table displays using historically factual text and illustrative photographs and a short play was developed to tell the story of how the dam was built and its affect on the local people and economy. The exhibit counters negative impressions about the dam and provides little known information to the public.
This project is sixth in a series between the India Association of Minnesota and the Minnesota Historical Society. It was developed to convey the history of the Indian Music Society of Minnesota (IMSOM) in three ways:
1. The collection and transcription of seven interviews telling the oral history of IMSOM.
2. The digitization of thirty years of concert performance recordings by leading musiciains from India as well as local artists.
To improve display areas that feature quilts, historic and artistic photographs, American Indian fine art, indigenous floral arrangements, locally grown herbs, and other handiwork indicative of Becker county by purchasing display cases and improving lighting. Additionally, to feature American Indian performers and a Norwegian performing pair to share their talents under the free tent during the fair.
The Minnesota Historical Society is removing financial and geographic barriers for Minnesota teachers who want to attend professional development courses. With these funds, the Society is making enriched, affordable Minnesota history training opportunities available to teachers around the state through a series of professional workshops, conferences and immersion experiences. Limited subsidies are available for lodging, mileage and substitute teacher reimbursement.
The Society worked with Nancy O'Brien Wagner from Bluestem Heritage group to develop a new interpretive plan for the Eugene St. Julien Cox House's exhibits and programs. The National Association of Interpretation's recommendations were used as the framework for the new plan for this home that is listed in National Register of Historic Places.
To create a venue in which to offer arts and culture programming at the fair. The Entertainment Committee of the Jackson County Fair Board will schedule a diverse set of artisans and musicians to provide demonstrations and educational programming for all ages of fair visitors. The free stage will give emergent local musical groups and individuals a stage upon which to showcase their growing talent.
The St. Paul Historic Preservation Commission hired a qualified consultant to complete the local Historic Preservation Site Designation form for the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company Historic District. After commission review and a public hearing the proposed historic district was recommended for approval to the St. Paul City Council. The City Council adopted the Jacob Schmidt Brewing Company Historic District as a Heritage Preservation Site along with the Preservation Program. The ordinance was adopted in July, 2011.
To offer fairgoers an opportunity to celebrate local history and culture. The Kandiyohi County Fair has rehabilitated the Old Settlers’ Cabin on the fair grounds. The Old Settlers’ Building was built in 1926 and will be used as memorial hall on the fair grounds. It was used as a gathering place for old settlers and will now be a place to house relics of earlier days.
To partner with the Lac qui Parle Historical Society to provide a historical display that takes the viewer through 141 years of the fair, county, and local 4-H history. The Lac qui Parle County Fair will also offer an interactive one room schoolhouse exhibit and host several arts demonstrations-as taught by the Milan Village Arts School.
To create a mural depicting Lake County's history, build a stage to accommodate performances, and provide a venue and supplies for painting, pottery, spinning, and other fine art workshops and demonstrations. Workshops and necessary supplies will be free to the public.
A traveling exhibit was developed to display museum-quality copies of fragile artifacts recovered from the archaeological site: Roosevelt Shores 21-CW-173. The exhibit tells the story of 2000 years (up through the late 1800's) of American history at the site.
Every year, more than 2,300 people volunteer in support of programs and projects delivered by the Minnesota Historical Society. With the addition of more than 100 Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) projects, the need for volunteers also increased.
ACHF funding enabled the Society to recruit, coordinate and supervise volunteers helping with Legacy projects. As of December 2010, nearly 80 new volunteers were recruited, trained and placed, including 10 percent from diverse communities.
Information was gathered as a follow-up to the public hearing testimony of Liberian immigrants' experience, given to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2008. Interviews were conducted of Liberian people who gave original testimony to the commission to document how they experienced the hearings and what impact the hearings had on those that testified as well as on those that assisted them.
To better showcase the talent of local artists by enhancing the display areas of the open class and 4-H buildings. Will also create a "Minnesota Made" butterflies exhibit.
The schooner-barge, Madeira, sank off the coast of Minnesota in Lake Superior on November 28, 1905. The GLSPS created an interpretive display to tell the story of this significant wreck that prompted the construction of the Split Rock Lighthouse in 1910. The bollards and attached deck section were salvaged from the wreck and were cleaned and repaired by volunteers to be used in the display. A durable concrete base was constructed, the artifacts moved into place and secured, and interpretive signage (appropriate to the park) was fabricated and installed.
To restore the front steps and add handicap accessibility to St. John's Episcopal Church, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and current home of the Dodge County Historical Society
Vermilion Community College Library added 73 volumes and 33 titles to their collection.
The library is working on building a collection covering all eras of Minnesota history, as well as the geographic and ethnic distribution of Minnesota's population to support the outside reading required in Minnesota History.
Twelve oral histories, discussing the history of psychiatry in Minnesota, were recorded in the late 1970's on audiotape. To preserve them, they were digitized, transcribed and archived along with 2 other oral histories taken in 1996. Forty years later twenty-three more interviews of senior MN psychiatric leaders were conducted, digitized and transcribed. These additional oral histories were added to the archive. A full set of the transcripts will be catalogued into the collections of the Minnesota Historical Society.
Partner Organization: Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations (AMPERS)
This partnership project with AMPERS, a network of Independent Public Radio stations across Minnesota, has created a series of 130 radio mini-features, 90 seconds in length.
Each episode of MN90 educates listeners about Minnesota history and links an important aspect of our past to current news, events and daily life in an entertaining and informative way.
The Minnesota Visiting Nurse Agency (MVNA) has revised and expanded their history book, first printed in 2002 to honor the organization's centennial, for a second printing. The revision includes historic photographs, excerpts from sixteen oral histories and updated information on the organziation's continuing efforts. The book, titled Caring For The Community Since 1902, was printed in January of 2011 and is being distributed, at no cost, to donors and potential donors, government officials and other decision-makers to raise awareness about the MVNA and it's continuing work.
To offer arts and educational opportunities for youth and seniors of Norman County. The Norman County Fair will offer several interactive arts and educational workshops including tie dying, a singing and dancing event called “Penny and Pals,” and a glass blowing demonstration. The fair will also feature a folk band and a draft horse exhibition.
To provide needed repairs to a historical building, the Old Church, on the Anoka County fairgrounds. Over 100 years old, the Old Church is also home to the Anoka County Arts Alliance during the week of the fair. The mission of the Anoka County Arts Alliance is to identify, provide support for, and promote the activities of the Anoka County arts community.
To provide educational opportunities for fair visitors to learn about the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in southern Minnesota. Between 1933 and 1939, the Olmsted County Fairgrounds was home to the regional headquarters of the CCC company 1774-V. The fair will create two exhibits documenting the living conditions of CCC and WPA workers, and the long-term impact of both programs.
To increase the availability of resources about Minnesota in the Civil War, the Washington County Library combined Legacy Funds to purchase 170 copies of three featured titles that cover the topic.
Twenty copies of the children's selection B is for Battle Cry: A Civil War Alphabet, 50 copies of the student selection Soldier's Heart: A Novel of the Civil War and 100 copies of the adult selection Pale Horse at Plum Run: The First Minnesota at Gettysburg were added to the library's collection.
In 2010, the Minnesota Historical Society researched the development of an Online Fur Trade Interactive Learning Experience as a supplement to the Northern Lights history textbook.
This web-based application, geared toward middle school students, will not only offer a glimpse of Minnesota's history, but also provides a lesson about the foundation of today's complex global economy.
With the help of Arts and Cultural Heritage funds, the Minnesota Historical Society is the first institution of its kind to fully digitize its entire oral history collection. This project promotes the discovery and use of the Minnesota Historical Society's oral history collection by digitizing 2,000 hours of recorded audio and making more existing oral histories available to the public on the "Becoming Minnesotan" website, education.mnhs.org/immigration. This collection represents a rich and unique source of history through the experiences of Minnesotans in their own words.
A comprehensive overhaul and expansion of the existing outdoor tour system at the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum was competed by contractors, volunteers and Museum staff. The overhaul involved outdoor tour map re-creation, kiosk guide improvement, script re-writes and audio track replacement. Two new kiosks and an outdoor display of the 1898 School cornerstone and capstone were also installed.
To bring arts and cultural heritage programming to the Kittson County Fair, and purchase a sound system to enhance the new programs. A lumberjack show will highlight the history of logging in Minnesota, and a bluegrass band will expose fair attendees to a genre of music inspired by the music of Appalachia.
