History Day, an annual program co-sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the University of Minnesota, challenges young people to research a historical subject related to an annual theme and present their findings in the form of exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites and papers. It is a rigorous program used by schools to meet state graduation standards for history and applied learning. Minnesota is widely recognized as a national leader in using the History Day program to improve academic achievement in history.
This groundbreaking project is creating a new model for school field trips using mobile and web technologies to capitalize on the natural behaviors and learning styles of today's students. "History in Our Hands: the Field Trip for the 21st Century Learner," will demonstrate how museums can use technology to create self-directed, personalized, responsive field trip experiences that deepen students" connection to history while honing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
The award-winning History Live! program served more than 8,400 students in FY16, bringing the total number of students served since the program's launch to more than 37,000. In FY17, the Interactive Video Conferencing studio was updated to incorporate new technologies, reduce costs and meet customer needs.
History Live! is working in partnership with the Jewish Community Relations Council to launch a new lesson that integrates student use of handheld technology with the interactive program.
To hire a qualified and experienced HVAC engineer to evaluate the current system in preparation for better control of the Kanabec County Historical Society museum environment.
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.
PROJECT OVERVIEW The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages over 2,135 state Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) and Aquatic Management Areas (AMA) containing over 1.3 million acres. This appropriation is enabling the DNR to develop an information system that will better facilitate the management of the state's WMAs and AMAs by helping to identify needs; prioritize, plan, and carry out related activities; track and assess results of activities; and make the information available to resource management professionals and the public.
This program will develop a centralized, integrated approach to managing existing data systems and incorporating new information needs into the integrated enterprise information system of data.
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.
This exhibit, on view May 23-Aug. 16, 2015, featured the Ebony Fashion Fair traveling fashion show that began in 1958. Over the next 50 years the fashion fair blossomed into an African American institution that raised millions for charity and helped the Johnson Publishing Company
Minnesotans of all ages are participating in deep intergenerational learning experiences by working together to document community history and create lasting products (exhibits, documentaries, audio tours etc.) that are shared with their communities. These intergenerational collaborations build relationships among members of older and younger generations, increase students" appreciation for Minnesota history and recognize the importance of older adults and their role in transmitting community history.
Digital maps were created depicting landscape change in Minnesota from the 1850s to today as well as maps that show predicted change in forest tree composition in northern Minnesota due to climate change.
This on-going program is for detecting, mapping and controlling invasive plant species and re-establishing native vegetation in their place on lands administered by the Division of Parks and Trails. Control of invasive plant species furthers progress to preserve and restore the quality of native plant communities on Parks and Trails lands as well as helps prevent the spread of invasives to new locations.
OVERALL PROJECT OUTCOME AND RESULTS The impetus for this project was the need to better protect and manage functional lake ecosystems in Minnesota. There is widespread concern about the consequences of poorly planned development on water quality and fish and wildlife habitat. Given the increased demands for water and shoreland, continued habitat fragmentation and loss of species diversity, protection of sensitive lakeshores is critical.
Valuable three-dimensional images of ancient rock carvings at Jeffers Petroglyphs will be safely stored and also made accessible to the general public thanks to ACHF funds. Funds allowed staff to catalogue the images and make them accessible at the Jeffers site and through the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections Online website. The images of individual carvings will serve as an archival record, a research and conservation resource and an educational tool
The Oliver H. Kelley farm in Elk River is a National Historic Landmark, where visitors experience mid-19th-century Minnesota farm life. This historic structures report provides the foundation for future maintenance and preservation of the farmhouse while continuing to provide an important level of programming and public service. The Jeffris Family Foundation has awarded a matching grant of $25,000 to the Minnesota Historical Society to fund half of the estimated costs of a consultant to prepare the report.
Minnesota Civic Youth is dedicated to helping kids and young adults develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and desire to be informed, active citizens. We do this by engaging them in authentic civic experiences and activities that respect their viewpoint and celebrate their voice. We have three primary program areas: Kids Voting Minnesota Network, Governing Youth and Teens Speak Out.
The Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) is a tool that can identify water pollution problems based on the type and abundance of selected plants or animals. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) uses IBIs for fish and macroinvertebrates (stream-dwelling insects and other critters) in streams to help determine whether these waterways are impacted by water pollution. The DNR has developed a similar tool for fish in lakes and uses a tool for aquatic plants as supporting information on lake biological health.
Learning Law and Democracy will enhance civic education across Minnesota by increasing the value of teachingcivics.org through redesigned architecture and an updated look and feel along with the addition of new lessons and user instructions. Student programs supported with this grant will also experience a redesign to capitalize on the renovated State Capitol and new Senate Building and will benefit from new partners and teachers with increased capacity to teach through professional development.
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 Legacy Field Trip Support Fund helped 24,444 Minnesota students in 298 schools experience field trips at Minnesota historic sites and museums statewide in FY15. The high cost of transportation prohibits many Minnesota teachers from taking their students on field trips. The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund offsets transportation costs to all of MNHS's 26 museums and historic sites statewide.
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
The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund will help an estimated 39,000 Minnesota students experience field trips at Minnesota historic sites and museums statewide in FY12 and FY13. The high cost of transportation prohibits many Minnesota teachers from taking their students on field trips. The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund offsets transportation costs to all of the Minnesota Historical Society's 26 museums and historic sites statewide. Eligible schools are reimbursed $3 per student.
The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund helped 22,014 Minnesota students in 284 schools experience field trips at Minnesota historic sites and museums statewide in FY16. The high cost of transportation prohibits many Minnesota teachers from taking their students on field trips. The Legacy Field Trip Support Fund offsets transportation costs to all MNHS historic sites and museums. Eligible schools (those with 25 percent or more of students enrolled in the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Program) are reimbursed $4 per student, allowing more students access to field trips.
MNHS and regional public libraries across Minnesota are combining resources to educate, entertain, and build community among library patrons in the state. Libraries and MNHS are bringing a range of programs and events to local libraries that document and preserve community stories for future generations, educate people of all ages about the history of Minnesota and its people, and make high quality history programming accessible to
all Minnesotans.
More than 60 programs were presented in dozens
of communities around the state, including:
The Minnesota Historical Society is deeply engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers, and supporters. In FY16, MNHS continued to build the organization's capacity for using skilled volunteers through staff trainings, creating new programs, and a thorough evaluation of programs targeted at adult audiences. New initiatives: Fifty-eight new skilled volunteer positions were added, contributing 4,700 volunteer hours.
MNHS is engaged in cultivating meaningful relationships with adult audiences as lifelong learners, members, donors, volunteers and supporters. The Writing Your Family Legacy Conference, held in partnership with the Loft Literary Center, returned for a second year. Participants learned how to research, write and preserve their family legacy at this all-day event. In FY17, the new MNHS Prime experiences launched for the lifelong learning audience, and included a history and dinner program series.
In spring 2017, a new program, History Today, will launch. The program uses the History Live!
MNHS continues its collaboration with Macalester College and the Somali community. Working closely with the Somali Museum of Minnesota, interviewer Ibrahim Hirsi began conducting eight final interviews for a Somali oral history project. Plans for FY17 include the completion of the project, which now consists of 57 interviews with Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
Maintaining Existing Holdings - A Parks and Trails Strategic Objective is a program area representing DNR's commitment to one of the four pillars identified in the 25 year Legacy plan. The Legacy plan calls this Take Care of What We Have, and identifies its purpose to provide safe, high-quality park and trail experiences by regular re-investment in park and trail infrastructure, and natural resource management.
To rehabilitate plumbing, electrical, and weather-tightness, and restore interior finishes on the log residence of the Marcell Ranger Station, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
