Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Grants Update
For those organizations that submitted pre-applications for the Fall mid and large grants round, final applications are due Friday November 18, 2011 by 11:59 p.m. Grants Office staff will be available 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help with any last minute questions, but don't put off completing your revisions until the last minute! Your grants staff contacts: John Fulton, 651-259-3467, Melinda Hutchinson, 651-259-3459, or Joe Hoover, 651-259-3461.

Remember, you must click 'Submit' next to your grant request in order for it to be sent to grants staff. Do not click 'Submit' until you're sure all revisions are complete.

From the Blog

VIDEO: The Grand Opening of Renaissance Box

The former O’Donnell Shoe Factory built in 1914 (the new Renaissance Box) was rehabilitated for affordable housing by Aeon.

O’Donnell Shoe Factory is the first rehab in the state to use new state historic rehabilitation tax credits, which offer a 20% credit on taxes related to certain rehab costs for historic structures.

The Minnesota Rehab Tax Credit was signed into law in April 2010 as an incentive to stimulate job growth, increase local tax base and revitalize communities across the state by encouraging private investment in historic properties.

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History picked up two new members, now numbering 683. In the news this week: how museums remain relevant amid budget concerns, indexing newspapers, digitizing newspapers.

Featured Facebook Comment:

Do History Here

Mayowood Tours
History Center of Olmsted County, Rochester MN, announces Christmas tours at Historic Mayowood Mansion throughout the month of November 2011. Daytime and evening tours available, but several tour slots already sold out. Call 507-282-9447 to reserve tickets.

Civil War Roundtable
Cannon Valley Civil War Roundtable meets Thursday November 17, 2011 at Faribault Senior Center, Faribault MN. Topic: Cannons of the Civil War, presented by John Cain of Red Wing. Call Jan Stevens, 507-244-0500 or Dan Peterson, 507-332-8250, for more information.

Thanksgiving Kids Kraft
Join Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee MN, Saturday November 19, 2011, 10:30 a.m. for Kids Kraft. Listen to a great Thanksgiving story and make a turkey craft. Free. Contact SCHS, 952-445-0378, to register.

Christmas Tea
Anoka County Historical Society, Anoka MN, hosts "Dolly and Me Christmas Tea" Thursday December 1 and 15, 2011, 6 p.m.; and Saturday December 3 and 17, 2011, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets required in advance. Cost: $10/adult, $7/child or ACHS member. Call 763-421-0600 for more information or to order tickets.

Christmas Open House
Join Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee MN, for a Christmas Open House, Friday December 2, 2011, 6-8 p.m. Tour the Stans House Museum and enjoy refreshments. Free. Contact SCHS, 952-445-0378, for more information.

Children's Christmas
Rice County Historical Society, Faribault MN, seeks children grades 1-6 to help make old-fashioned Christmas decorations and decorate the RCHS Christmas tree, Saturday December 3, 2011 10 a.m. to noon. Call 507-332-2121 to reserve a spot.

Victorian Dinner
Kenyon Area Historical Society, Kenyon MN, hosts Victorian Holiday Dinner at the M.T. Gunderson Home, December 3, 9, and 10, 2011, 6:30 p.m. tour, 7:15 p.m. dinner; and December 4 and 11, 2011, 2:30 p.m. dinner with tour following. Sleigh rides available. Cost: $30/person. Call Jane or Allan Story, 507-789-5204, to RSVP.

French-Canadian Christmas
Join Rice County Historical Society, Faribault MN, in celebrating a traditional French-Canadian Christmas at the Alexander Faribault House, Friday December 2, 2011, 4-7 p.m. and Saturday December 3, 2011, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. Call 507-332-2121 for more information.

Book Signing
Several local authors will attend a book signing event at the Warden's House Museum, Stillwater MN, Saturday December 3, 2011, 1-4 p.m. Call Washington County Historical Society, 651-439-5956, for more information.

Victorian Holidays
LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, hosts Victorian Holidays, December 3-4, 2011. Guided tours start at 10 a.m. Or, come for a catered Victorian dinner, Sunday December 4, 2011, 5 p.m. Tickets: $50/person. Enjoy period entertainment, a visit from General and Mrs. LeDuc, and more. Reservations required for the dinner; call 651-437-7055.

Folkways Celebration
Join The Landing--Minnesota River Heritage Park, Shakopee MN, during weekends in December 2011 (except Christmas and New Year's) for "Folkways of the Holidays," a celebration of 19th century holiday cultural traditions. Admission: $5/adults, $3/children and seniors. Call 763-694-7617 for more information.

Continuing Education

Reminder: Deadline Approaching
Conservation Assessment Program (CAP) provides small to mid-size museum with a general conservation assessment of their collections, environmental conditions, and facilities. Apply now! Deadline: December 1, 2011.

AASLH Scholarships
American Association for State and Local History offers four scholarships for their 2012 onsite workshops. Applications due December 12, 2011.

Distance Learning
Cultural Resource Management at University of Victoria (BC) offers online courses for Diploma in Cultural Resource Management, Professional Specialization Certificate in Collections Management, or Professional Specialization Certificate in Heritage Conservation Planning. Registration deadline for spring distance courses: December 12, 2011.  

Historic Preservation Presentations
Wisconsin Historical Society announces that presentations from their 2011 Local History and Historic Preservation Conference are now available online.

Travel Grant Program
Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) announces the Third Annual Fitzgerald Travel Grant Program. Grants available for attendance at the 2012 Annual Meeting, New Haven CT, June 11-16, 2012. Application information online. Deadline: March 1, 2012.

Fund Your Mission

News

Give to the Max
Annual Give to the Max Day is today, Wednesday November 16, 2011. So many worthy organizations, and only 24 hours to donate!

Traveling Exhibits
Minnesota Historical Society announces upcoming traveling exhibits tours. Contact Aaron Novodvorsky for more information, 651-259-3052.

Online Newsletter
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, announces that their monthly newsletter is now available online.

Be Included!
Explore Minnesota encourages all historical organizations to sign up to be included on their website--free! Potential visitors will be able to find information on your organization when planning vacations and outings in Minnesota. Call Kimberly Clarke, 800-657-3737, for more information.

Field Note