Minnesota History Magazine celebrates its 100th anniversary with a new digital version. Beginning in April 2015, the quarterly magazine will be available as an app for both iPad and Android. The app version allows innovative additional content and also offers audiences an up-to-date channel for accessing, engaging with, and experiencing Minnesota's history.
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.
The Minnesota Historical Society receives funds that it passes to Minitex to support the operation of the Minnesota Digital Library (MDL). MDL supports the digitization efforts of more than 150 participating historical organizations across the states and maintains the technical infrastructure for providing access to those collections on the web. MDL also advances educational and scholarly uses of the collections and is a data partner with the Digital Public Library of America.
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.
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 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 Minnesota Main Street program is a proven, comprehensive strategy that helps communities create new jobs and businesses while revitalizing buildings and preserving their historic downtowns. MNHS's Heritage Preservation department works with the partners
listed above to implement Minnesota Main Street,
which provides the tools, training, information, and networking that communities need to revitalize their business districts.
There are currently seven Minnesota Main Street designated communities: Faribault, New Ulm, Owatonna, Red Wing, Shakopee, Willmar, and Winona.
The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) is a statewide, multi-institutional collaboration that supports discovery, education, and personal enrichment through digitization of and access to the rich historical resources of the state's public and academic libraries, archives, museums and historical societies, while also preserving these resources for future generations.
MDL partnered with:
Motionpoems, a formerly all-volunteer startup poetry film initiative, will build capacity to present our 3rd annual screening in October 2011, renamed as THE BEST AMERICAN POETRY FILM FESTIVAL, at Open Book in Minneapolis, and will expand the impact of this annual hybrid film event on Minnesota artists and audiences.
The Library needed to build a more robust collection of Minnesota history books throughout all nine branches that would support it's programs. There are several specific content areas for programs including the Civil War, diversifying populations, environmental heritage and cultural heroes and institutions. 227 items were purchased and made available at all nine branches of the Washington County Library System either directly in the collection or by delivery to the branch.
To hire a qualified historian to complete an evaluation to determine eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for the Minnetonka Beach Water Tower.
To hire a qualified historian to complete an updated nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the historic Minnetonka Town Hall, now owned and used by Minnetonka Community Church.
