The administration of the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant Program ensures rigor, fairness, honesty, integrity, and consistency in the distribution of ACHF funding. Grants staff consult on, review, evaluate, respond to, mentor, coach, shape, and monitor grant projects from initial applicant contact to project closeout, reporting, and monitoring.
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.
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.
Partner: The University of Minnesota--Twin Cities
University of Minnesota students from diverse backgrounds explored the museum field through a semester-long course at the U, followed by a paid summer internship at the Minnesota Historical Society. The course introduced students to issues related to diversity and museums. Students then chose from a wide range of internship positions and also interacted with professionals in the field during a museum study trip to Washington, D.C.
The award-winning History Live! program served more than 5,500 students in FY15, bringing the total number of students served since the program launched in FY11 to nearly 29,000. For the first quarter of FY16, the History Live! program updated its business plan with a goal to increase overall revenue and serve more students. It provided 14 programs serving 421 students through Oct. 31, 2015. In addition, the program partnered with the Jewish Community Relations Council to launch a new History Live! lesson that integrates students' use of handheld technology with the live program.
Through this partnership, U of M and ACTC students from diverse backgrounds explored the museum field and issues related to diversity and museums through a fall semester-long course for ACTC students and a spring semester course at the university, followed by a paid internship at MNHS, the Somali Museum of Minnesota, Mia, and other organizations.
A photo exhibit and commemorative event marked the fifth anniversary of a catastrophic event in Minnesota history: the collapse of the I-35W bridge. For the exhibit, local artist Vance Gellert interviewed and photographed survivors, people who lost loved ones, first responders and other helpers. The exhibit was on view at Mill City Museum in Minneapolis from Aug. 1 to Dec. 30, 2012. A public commemorative event at Mill City Museum on Aug.
The Diversity Committee guides MNHS in relation to its strategic priority for diversity and inclusivity. The team meets regularly to discuss current offerings, interactions with various diverse communities and provides services for MNHS to increase cultural competency of staff. The committee activities have emphasized training and development of staff, choosing the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) as an assessment tool to provide a benchmark of the current state of intercultural competency with the plan of reassessing at a later date to gauge improvements.
-Ojibwe curriculum k-12
-Language tables
-Public Awareness through city signage in Ojibwe
-Transfer of recordings of elder Ojibwe speakers from cassette to CD (35)
The purpose of the Jeffers Petroglyphs Data Access project is to store and provide access to 3D digital scans of the Jeffers Petroglyphs. A website devoted to the Jeffers Petroglyphs is being created to showcase the valuable three-dimensional images of ancient rock carvings recently catalogued by the Minnesota Historical Society Collections staff. This project carries out the critical second piece of the 2008 Jeffers Petroglyphs Conservation Project that was initially funded to remove lichen from the petroglyphs.
LSA is a statewide project that builds on the achievements realized during the first five years of Legacy funding. The LSA is a strategic document and a resource for the work of statewide history communities over the next four years. Through a collaborative statewide process, the LSA has identified four goals and four strategic priorities that ultimately will be measured and sustained. Legacy Vision
We are all deeply connected to each other when we are engaged in, enriched by, and excited about Minnesota's history and cultural heritage.
Legacy Goals
MNHS launched several new marketing tools that spread the word of exhibitions and related programs supported by Legacy funding. A new MNHS programs and events magazine is reaching more Minnesotans than ever before, and a new partnership with the Star Tribune advertises MNHS programs twice per month next to the paper's new Minnesota history column by Curt Brown. Additional marketing through print, broadcast, outdoor, and online communications have also contributed to impressive gains in attendance and awareness of the Legacy-funded programs and exhibits presented by MNHS.
The Minnesota Historical Society is deeply engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers and supporters.
Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Cambodian immigrants have left an indelible and flavorful mark on Minnesota and on our culinary, cultural and economic history. The book "Asian Flavors" and an accompanying documentary record the story of countless men and women who made the arduous journey halfway around the world to live in Minnesota, fleeing oppression and persecution or in search of jobs and education. This project preserves and shares their stories of survival and success in our state, stories that serve as an inspiration to all.
Minnesota's Legacy Website is a site that follows the progress of all projects and programs receiving constitutionally dedicated funding from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment as well as the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
The Minnesota History Center offered numerous programs and events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Minnesota's role in the Civil War, including a sold-out lecture by Richard Moe, author of "Last Full Measure: The Life and Death of the First Minnesota Volunteers;" a "Nine Nights of Music" tribute to the Civil War and a remembrance of fallen soldiers; a Gettysburg/Vicksburg Anniversary Family Day; and a new "Saint Paul after the Civil War" trolley tour. Other programs include dance and music performances from the Rose Ensemble and other partner organizations, lectures, and more.
Partner: The Minnesota State Fair Foundation
The Minnesota Historical Society and the Minnesota State Fair Foundation are increasing awareness and knowledge of Minnesota history by providing quality programming for visitors to the Great Minnesota Get Together. In 2013, the partners added new visual and written content for the Minnesota State Fair History Walking Tour brochure, new audio and visual content to the smartphone tour component, and presented audio/visual content via social media throughout the fair.
Partner: Preservation Alliance of Minnesota
The Minnesota Main Street Program is a proven, comprehensive strategy that helps communities create new jobs and businesses while preserving their historic downtowns. Additional partners include: GreenStep Cities, Minnesota Design Team, University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality, and University of Minnesota Tourism Center. The program provides tools, training, information and networking that communities need to revitalize their business districts.
The Civil War stories of the Oliver Kelley Farm and Historic Fort Snelling were featured in a 30-minute television program and broadcast statewide by Twin Cities Public Television (TPT). A similar TV segment was also aired on the Civil War origins of Juneteenth and how this anniversary continues to to be commemorated in the African American community. These historical topics and many more, including the 1862 U.S, Dakota War, comprised a special 2-hour television program also broadcast by TPT.
The grant provided research, writing and editing of five selected articles to be published at www.mnopedia.org. The topics chosen were: Crystal Sugar of Chaska, the Watertown Bell factory, the 1965 Floods, the Little Rapids Fur Post and the Waconia Patriot.
By adding content on Carver County history to this resource, Carver County Historical Society provides a more complete collection of their history and allows their organization to share and interpret our local history with a much broader audience.
To construct a log building that will house Dakota and Ojibway artifacts during the Douglas County Fair. The building will be open to the public at no charge and it will be staffed and operated with the support of the Runestone Museum and the Douglas County Historical Society. Speakers will talk about Native American history, share their own family artifacts, provide instrumental and vocal performances, and be available to converse with visitors as they view the collection.
Partners: City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County Library and Minneapolis Public Schools
In November and December 2013, Minnesota residents had a unique opportunity to view a collection of photos by Gordon Parks and participate in a community conversation around his book "A Choice of Weapons," the 2013 One Minneapolis One Read selection. The exhibit, which was on display at Mill City Museum, also featured approximately 30 photographs created by Minneapolis high school students alongside images by Parks, on loan from The Gordon Parks Foundation.
In 2017, St. Paul's world renown Penumbra Theatre will celebrate its 40 anniversary. This exhibit, a three way partnership between MNHS, Penumbra Theatre and the University of Minnesota, will highlight the central role this local theater company played in the burgeoning Black Arts Movement through documents, artifacts, costumes, videoed performances and interviews, and stage sets. Exhibit opens February 18 and runs through July 31, 2017.
Outcome goals: MHC attendance greater than 240,000 in FY17. Net Promoter Score goal +50 or higher.
