In May 2009, the Minnesota State Legislature asked the Minnesota Humanities Center and four state councils-the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, the Council on Black Minnesotans, the Chicano Latino Affairs Council, and the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans-to collaboratively create new programs and events that celebrates and preserves the artistic, historical, and cultural heritages of the communities represented by each council.
The Latino population in Minnesota has grown dramatically since 1980, both in the Twin Cities and in Greater Minnesota, in cities such as Worthington, Willmar, St. James, Moorhead, Melrose, Long Prairie and Albert Lea. This project involves interviewing Chicano-Latino elders and community leaders from approximately a dozen Latino population centers in the state.
College interns from Minnesota's diverse communities are placed across MNHS in various departments and sites. During their semester-long internships, students have the opportunity to work alongside museum and public history professionals to enhance their skills and apply their knowledge in a professional environment.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Minnesota Historical Society is creating a broad range of opportunities to help students, teachers and the general public learn more about the war and the role Minnesota played.
To upgrade a portable stage. The Cottonwood County Agricultural Society has purchased a new portable stage that is larger in size and accommodates a greater variety of performers. With this upgrade, the Agricultural Society will be able to accommodate 50-60 uses throughout the year at different venues and help to bring a larger, culturally diverse group to performances.
Research shows that traditional teaching tools, such as textbooks and lectures, don’t fully engage today’s students who have grown up surrounded by technology and who use it in their daily lives. In this ongoing project, an additional two Minnesota Historical Society historic sites will improve their service to “21st Century Learners” and their teachers and parents.
Research shows that traditional teaching tools, such as textbooks and lectures, don't fully engage today's students who have grown up surrounded by technology and who use it in their daily lives. This biennium, an additional four Minnesota Historical Society historic sites are improving their service to "21st Century Learners" and their teachers and parents.
To restore the old Carbine House on the fairgrounds. The Crow Wing County Fair will rehabilitate an historic house on the fairgrounds that was originally an old trading post and was later occupied by Duncan and Ella Carbine. They will work with the Historical Society to ensure that the restoration is done in a historically accurate manner.
In 2012, the Minnesota Historical Society will commemorate theU.S.-Dakota War of 1862 through a variety of programs and methods, including online presentations, educational tools, published works, artwork, events and community outreach. Visit usdakotawar.org for a list of all initiatives.
To provide programming that tells the story of Dakota County's 160 years of settlement, Minnesota history and cultural traditions, through an entertaining tent show that combines story telling and original music. The show will be reminiscent of the 1900s era Chautauqua programs. It will be performed daily in the tent at Dakota City Heritage Village.
An exhibit was created as a 13-part rotating display highlighting medical care in Minneapolis and Hennepin County from the 1870's to the present. It was first shown at the Hennepin County Medical Center and was then placed in the Hennepin County Government Center Gallery in September, 2011.
The exhibit had been researched and developed by Hennepin Medical History Center volunteers using history center resources. Medical statistics were gathered, a diary-style storyline was created to run the length of the exhibit and objects were chosen for display.
Increasingly, people are turning to digital resources for answers to questions or as a starting point for research. MNopedia is a new digital resource for the public from the Minnesota Historical Society.
This project will move from a development phase to an implementation phase during which the public will begin to gain access to a greater number of Minnesota newspapers from around the state on the internet. Society staff will refine and automate the newspaper management system it developed in the first phase of the project and continue to work out access agreements with publishers and also form new partnerships with many more publishers. Staff will continue the work of harvesting and archiving webonly news sources that was begun in the first phase of the project.
To provide an educational overview of Isanti County over the five days of the Isanti County Fair. "Discovering Living History at the 135th Isanti County Fair" will provide visitors with an authentic, historically accurate old west experience, opportunity to hear live bluegrass music and interact with German folk musicians, and wander through exhibits showcasing artifacts of Minnesota's past.
To feature three days of dance programs highlighting dance styles from seven different historical periods. These demonstrations will be part of the 125th anniversary celebration of the Douglas County Fair. Dance programming will offer historical background of each dance in addition to demonstrations.
Partner Organization: Science Museum of Minnesota.
The Science Museum of Minnesota and the Minnesota Historical Society each maintain important historical collections of American Indian cultural objects assembled by Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple. The objects document the changes experienced by the Dakota and Ojibwe in Minnesota in the 19th century.
To highlight the importance of agriculture in rural and urban areas and to bring awareness of how farming culture is alive throughout Minnesota.
To bring the All American Lumberjack Show to Lac qui Parle County Fair. With two teams and ten lumberjack events, the show will offer viewers an opportunity to see demonstrations of old time skills, and can join the lumberjacks at camp to get a hands on experience.
Four new and unique views of Fort Snelling from various points in history will be available for students, teachers and the general public to access online. The Minnesota Historical Society has been collaborating with the Institute for Advanced Technology in the Humanities at the University of Virginia to build four computer models that illustrate a dynamic and changing Fort Snelling from 1820 to 1945. The models will be linked to a rich and interrelated set of materials from all parts of the Society's collections, including photographs and manuscripts.
A survey of 15 historic building interiors of the West District of Fort Snelling to supplement the Historic Context Study of the Light Rail Transit Station Area.
To provide arts and heritage programming by local artists. Programming will include story-telling, ethnic music, demonstrations of period culture, lathe turning, spoon carving, and spinning.
