MNHS exhibits are supported by diverse programming that complements exhibit content while extending the rich stories of Minnesota's history. MNHS staff are able to partner with community organizations on innovative programs for visitors of all ages. In FY17, programs included lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, musical performances, readers theater programs in the exhibit gallery, hands-on family activities and other events.
Minnesota Historical Society exhibitions are supported by diverse programming that complements the content of the exhibitions. These additional programs augmented and promoted the rich stories of Minnesota's history in connection with exhibitions such as "American Spirits: the Rise and Fall of Prohibition" and "Toys of the 50s, 60s and 70s."
The goal of this project is to adapt and expand the existing successful Master Water Stewards program to engage citizens and catalyze clean water projects in suburban, exurban and rural communities of Washington and southern Chisago Counties. As part of this project, 20 citizens' stewards will be recruited and trained to work in partnership with the Washington Conservation District and area watershed management organizations to implement clean water projects in identified priority areas.
Partner: Minnesota Association of Museums (MAM)
MAM provides professional development and support to museum professionals across the state. This partnership funds a part-time managing coordinator to research professional development programs for museum professionals, communicate and promote the programs, determine what additional professional development opportunities are needed and expand MAM programming to serve organizations across the state.
Building on the exhibit development community engagement process carried through three successive Legacy grants, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota used the 2013 direct appropriation to prepare for and begin building exhibit components for its permanent facility by combining professional museum expertise with local resources, volunteers, and community involvement.
To hire a qualified consultant to develop architectural drawings for Lake Harriet Methodist Episcopal Church, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The program that we are proposing has three components; 1) weekly arts club that provides arts education and peer mentoring for youth that are designed to introduce youth to traditional Somali arts. 2) A Somali arts show and cultural learning opportunity taking place at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis through The Southern’s Arts Residency and Art Share Programs. 3) Showcasing Somali art at the Somali Independence day Festival in 2017.
The Faribault County Soil and Water Conservation District Drainage Engineer will inventory public drainage ditches to identify priority systems and areas where erosion, sediment, and nutrients contribute to water quality degradation. Sites identified for potential side inlet control, buffer strip need, or water storage will be prioritized for landowner contact and follow through by seeking external funding opportunities.
Working with a consultant, a current online database to manage public drainage systems will be enhanced and a corresponding mobile inspection app will be developed to facilitate drainage compliance and improve inspection planning. With these improvements, a long-term, comprehensive, GIS-compatible database will be in place to help plan, collect, document, summarize, and analyze system condition, repair needs, and violations with the overall goal of protecting and improving water quality.
To hire a qualified consultant to conduct a feasibility study of the Worthington Armory, eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.
To hire an architect to write a Historic Structure Report to guide future restoration of the 1915 Federal Courthouse and Post Office, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, now the Rourke Art Museum.
Elms were once a very widespread tree in Minnesota and amongst the most common and popular in urban landscapes due to their size, shading capability, and tolerance of pollution and other stresses. Over the past five decades, though, Dutch elm disease, an exotic and invasive pathogen, has killed millions of elms throughout the state. However, scientists at the University of Minnesota have observed that some elms have survived the disease and appear to have special characteristics that make them resistant to Dutch elm disease.
-Increase knowledge for 69 American Indian youth ages 7-17 through practice of conversational Dakota
-Build the foundation for youth to grow to become fluent speakers
-Improve proficiency of Dakota language learners by the end of 12 months
This exhibit about the iconic Minneapolis club, First Avenue, will explore the 1980s when the club was at its peak as a trailblazing venue that put Minnesota music on the map. For four decades, the First Avenue has been a launching pad for local talent like Prince, The Replacements and Husker Du and a place national touring acts loved to play. It booked African American rock, soul and hip-hop artists unable to get gigs at other downtown venues, and it fostered a growing punk, hardcore and indie rock scene.
The Bell Museum will sort and identify all fish samples collected by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) North and South Biological Monitoring Units. The Bell Museum of Natural History (Bell Museum) will provide professional fish Identification expertise to the MPCA fish voucher program, while also helping the Bell Museum annually update their fish distribution map for the State of Minnesota. As the MPCA samples and vouchers species of significance, the Bell Museum shall catalog these species into their official fish collection.
The DNR works with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Health to determine the level of contamination from mercury and other harmful chemicals in fish from Minnesota's lakes and rivers and to track the success of efforts to reduce mercury pollution. Clean Water Legacy funding is being used to significantly increase (more than double) the number of lakes and rivers that are assessed for mercury contamination on an annual basis. Fish are collected during DNR fishery surveys, processed for laboratory testing, and analyzed for contaminants.
Project partners Northern Water Land Trust (NWLT) and Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) successfully concluded this grant, protecting a combined total of 630 acres (105% of goal) and 25,278 feet of shoreline (188% of goal), while providing $965,000 in leverage to the grant (170% of goal). NWLT purchased the 29-acre Woman Lake Aquatic Management Area in fee and conveyed to the Minnesota DNR. The parcel protects 1,140 feet of shoreline on Broadwater Bay.
Reed canary grass is preventing natural regeneration of trees and threatening floodplain forests and wildlife along the Mississippi. This effort builds on previous LSOHC funding to control reed canary grass and plant trees as part of a long-term effort.
To hire a qualified professional to write an exterior building assessment of the Florence Town Hall, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
