Statewide Plan

Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Small Grants Deadline
Applications for the next small (Fast Track) grants deadline is this Friday October 21, 2011. Grants Office staff are available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer questions or help navigate the new grants portal. Don't procrastinate--setting up a login for first-time users can take up to a day turnaround, and it does take some time to complete a competitive application.  

Grants Portal Tip
Some applicants may have trouble uploading documents to the grants portal. Although the portal was initially set up to be compatible with any of the main internet browsers, it functions best with Google Chrome. Grants Office staff recommend that applicants download Chrome for use with the grants portal--it's free, and you are not required to make it your default browser, so all your regular browser settings would remain as-is.

From the Blog

Miss out on Preserve Minnesota, the Statewide Historic Preservation Conference? Not a problem. We have recorded many of the sessions and will be posting them on the State Historic Preservation Office's blog as we finish editing each of them.

PODCAST - Keynote Address: Preservation Doesn't Cost - It Pays! Part 1

Bob Yapp gives practical, humorous and cutting edge advice on the economic benefits of historic preservation. Learn how to counteract property rights arguments using cost comparisons between rehabilitation and new construction projects.

PODCAST - Historic Tax Credits: What's the Big Deal About Small Deals?
Tax credit projects are complex no matter what their size. Smaller projects (under $1 million) can be especially challenging. This session provided an update on Minnesota’s State Historic Tax Credit program and examined several smaller Minnesota projects. Panelists discussed why small deals are so challenging, how to structure them, and what elements need to be in place to attract investors.

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History fans number 673, incidentally the approximate birth year of the Venerable Bede, monk, author, scholar, and not least, historian. In the news this week: the future of pay phones, cemeteries for historical reference, Washington County murals, Carver County photos, barns and walls. Something for everyone!

Job Opportunities

Collection Manager
Chicago History Museum seeks Collection Manager for Costume & Textiles. Deadline: October 31, 2011.

Assistant/Associate Curator
Art Institute of Chicago seeks Assistant/Associate Curator of Architecture & Design.

Senior Manager
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, East Lansing MI, seeks Senior Manager of Programs and Events.

Communications Manager
Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, East Lansing MI, seeks Communications Manager.

Curator of Exhibitions
DePauw University, Greencastle IN, seeks Curator of Exhibitions and University Collections.

Do History Here

Public Meeting Notice
Public meeting scheduled today, Wednesday October 19, 2011, 4:30-6 p.m., Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis MN, to view and discuss new design plans for Peavey Plaza. The plaza was on Preservation Alliance of Minnesota's 10 Most Endangered Historic Places list in 2008.

Living La Vida
Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul MN, presents "Living La Vida: Discussion," Thursday October 20, 2011, noon. History discussion follows presentation by Leila Albert on Mexican Americans in Ramsey County. Free. Call 651-222-0701 for more information.

Volunteer Opportunity
Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee MN, seeks volunteers to help put the Stans Garden to bed for the winter, Friday October 21, 2011, 3-6 p.m. Bring gloves and a rake, if possible. SCHS will provide lawn bags and refreshments. Contact Allison if you are able to attend, 952-445-0378.

Trolley Rides
Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm MN, offers a special Family Fun Trolley to Glen Location, October 22 and 29, 2011, 1 and 3 p.m. Cost: $2/person plus admission. Call 800-372-6437 for more information.

Civil War Talk
Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn Park MN, hosts Darryl Sannes, who will speak on "Patriots of Brooklyn," Tuesday October 25, 2011, 6:30 p.m., Brookdale Library, Brooklyn Center. Call 763-560-8893 for more information.

Big Top Chautauqua
Minnesota State University, Mankato, hosts Big Top Chautauqua's "Old Minnesota: Song of the North Star" for the opening of their renovated Centennial Student Union Ballroom, Friday October 28, 2011, 7:30 p.m. Advanced tickets available online. 

Harvest Haunting
LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, hosts Harvest Haunting, Saturday October 29, 2011, 5-9 p.m. Tickets: $5. Call 651-437-7055 for more information or to schedule a tour.

Halloween Historia
Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, presents Halloween Historia, Saturday October 29, 2011, noon-4 p.m. Tickets: $3. Call 320-253-8424 for more information.

Exhibit Reception
Join Riverland Community College, Austin MN, for the opening reception for "Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations," Wednesday November 2, 2011, 5 p.m., East Building, Room N123. RSVP by October 26, 2011.

Annual Meeting
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, invites its members and the public to attend their Annual Meeting at the Hormel Historic Home, Thursday November 3, 2011, 6 p.m. Tickets: $12; RSVP by Wednesday October 26, 2011. For more information or to reserve seats call 507-437-6082.

Art Fundraiser
St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth MN, announces "Art Unveiled!," a fundraising event at the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, Wednesday November 16, 2011, 5:30-8 p.m. Enjoy art, history, wine and cheese, and music for $25/ticket. Call 218-733-7586 for more information or to reserve tickets.  

New Deal Exhibit
Historical & Cultural Society of Clay County hosts traveling exhibit "Uncle Sam's New Deal," November 17-December 30, 2011. Join them for an exhibit preview Thursday November 17, 2011, 5-7 p.m., Usher's House, Moorhead. Reservations required. Call Tim Jorgensen, 218-299-5511 x6737 by Thursday November 10, 2011 to reserve your spot.

Traveling Exhibits Available
Looking to host a traveling exhibit on Minnesota History? Minnesota Historical Society has several exhibits available for 2012. Contact Aaron Novodvorsky, 651-259-3052, for more information.

Continuing Education

Online Archives Course
American Association for State and Local History announce that registration is open for Basics of Archives online course. Register now and take the course anytime between October 31-December 2, 2011. Cost: $85 AASLH members; $160 nonmembers.

PastPerfect CDs
Limited time only--PastPerfect 4.0 training CDs now on sale. Receive three CDs: Cataloging Your Collections with PastPerfect; Managing Contacts, Donations and Memberships with PastPerfect 4.0; and Research and Reporting with PastPerfect 4.0 for only $70. Free shipping. Call 800-562-6080 and provide coupon code TR4CD2011CPN to order. Offer expires Friday November 11, 2011.

Field Note

Legacy Grant Highlight
Clean Up the River Environment, Montevideo MN, received a $7,000 Fast Track grant in the July 2010 round to publish a photographic history of Montevideo. They presented copies of the book at the Governor's Pheasant Season Opener this past weekend. Pictured from left: John Edman, Director, Explore Minnesota; U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar; and U.S. Representative Collin Peterson, 7th District.

Photo courtesy Clean Up the River Environment.