Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Grant Deadlines
The Grants Office has set grant deadlines for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants program for Fiscal Year 2013. Questions? Contact John Fulton, 651-259-3467, or Melinda Hutchinson, 651-259-3459.

Small/Fast Track grants:

• June 15, 2012
• August 17, 2012
• October 5, 2012
• November 9, 2012 (if funds available)
• January 11, 2013 (if funds available)

Recipient: Todd County
Funding Amount:$156,369
Project Overview
The grant restored the roof and abated water infiltration at the Hewitt Public School, home to the Hewitt Historical Society. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

From the Blog

Featured local history museum
Swift County Historical Society Museum - Benson, Minnesota The Swift County History Museum is located on the west edge of Benson off of U.S. Highway 12. The museum features artifacts that depict the history of Swift County. Many of the artifacts are displayed in period room settings – dining room, living room, bedroom, general store, church, school, etc. Facebook Findings

Local History Newsletter Digest:
History Never Stops
The following article was originally printed in "The Argus" March/April 2012, Volume 13, Number 2. Reprinted with permission from the Winona County Historical Society.

Minnesota Local History is up to 786 'likes.' What's to like this week?

• War of 1812 bicentennial to be remembered in Walker MN.
• What is the "right" size for a history museum?
• Ribbon cutting at the new Steele County History Center.

Job Opportunities

Executive Director
Rock County Historical Society, Janesville WI, seeks Executive Director. Deadline: May 11, 2012.

Training Specialist
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Stanton ND, seeks GS-1712-09 Training Specialist. Deadline: May 11, 2012.

Museum Director
National Motorcycle Museum, Anamosa IA, seeks Museum Director.

Curator
Louis Armstrong House, Corona, Queens, New York, NY, seeks Curator. Submit cover letter; curriculum vitae; names, emails, and telephone numbers of three references with the subject header Curator Search. Position open until filled.

Do History Here

Battle of Acton Talk--Tonight!
Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, Excelsior MN, hosts Darryl Sannes, who will speak on the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862 and the Battle of Acton, tonight, Wednesday May 2, 2012, 7 p.m., SouthShore Center, Shorewood. Call 952-221-4766 for more information.

Plant Sale
Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter MN, invites the public to the annual Cox House Plant Sale, Saturday May 5, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact Ben Leonard, 507-934-2160, for more information.

Clean-Up Day
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, will hold their annual Clean-up Day on Saturday May 5, 2012, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you'd like to help get the grounds ready for the summer tour season, please contact Dustin Heckman, 507-437-6082.

Documentary Film
Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter MN, invites the public to view "The Boys from Wasioja" documentary film, Sunday May 6, 2012, 2 p.m. at the Treaty Site History Center. Contact Ben, 507-934-2160, for more information.

Exhibit Opening
Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter MN, opens a new exhibit, "Thinking About Community," Sunday May 6, 2012, 4 p.m., documenting a trip from St. Peter to her Sister City, Petatlan, Mexico. Contact Ben, 507-934-2160, for more information.

Harkin Store Opens
Harkin Store Historic Site, 9 miles northwest of New Ulm MN, opens for the season Sunday May 6, 2012, 1-4 p.m. Featured program: "Egg Coffee and Newton." Managed by Nicollet County Historical Society. Call 507-934-2160 or 507-354-8666 for more information.

Breakfast Club
Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, holds their Breakfast Club Program Wednesday May 9, 2012, 9-10 a.m. This month's topic is "The Leavenworth Rescue Expedition Revisited," focusing on the effects of the U.S.-Dakota War on the local community. For more information, call 320-253-8424.

Saint Peter Tornado
Nicollet County Historical Society, St. Peter MN, hosts a presentation on "The Saint Peter Tornado of 1998: Voices of Organizational Collaboration and Decision-Making," Treaty Site History Center, Thursday May 10, 2012, 7 p.m. Free. Contact Ben, 507-934-2160, for more information.

Norwegian Heritage Week
Pennington County Historical Society, Thief River Falls MN, is partnering with Sons of Norway Lodge Snorre #70 on activities for Norwegian Heritage Week, May 13-19, 2012. Contact PCHS, 218-681-5767, for more information.

Syttende Mai
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead MN, celebrates Norway's Constitution Day with Syttende Mai Polsefest, Thursday May 17, 2012, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Call 218-299-5511 for more information.

Lunch Program
Join St. Louis County Historical Society, Duluth MN, for Lunch with the History People, Thursday May 17, 2012, noon to 1 p.m. at the Depot. Author Jack Salmela will speak on his latest work of historical fiction, "Sisterhood of the Hennepin Chalice," which includes references to historic structures in Duluth. Call 218-733-7568 for more information.

Minnesota Riverboats
Harkin Store, 9 miles northwest of New Ulm MN, hosts a program on Minnesota riverboats and the village of West Newton, Sunday May 20, 2012, 1-4 p.m. Call 507-354-8666 or 507-934-2160 for more information.

LeDuc Descendants in Hastings
Guests at the LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN, will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet descendants of William Gates and Mary Bronson LeDuc, Sunday May 20, 2012, 1 p.m. Great-granddaughters Anne LeDuc and Nancy LeDuc Williams, along with Nancy's husband and sons, will share memories of their family and the "big house in Hastings." Reservations encouraged; call 651-437-7055.

Civil War Program
Ramsey County Library-White Bear Lake hosts a Civil War Program, "The War Between the States and White Bear Lake," Monday May 21, 2012, 6 p.m. Presented by Sara Markoe Hanson, Executive Director of the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society. For more information call 651-724-6022.

Music Program
Musician Bill Cagley will play "music for all ages" at the Harkin Store, 9 miles northwest of New Ulm MN, Sunday May 27, 2012, 1-4 p.m. For more information call 507-354-8666 or 507-934-2160.

Cemetery Sesquicentennial
Mound Cemetery of Brooklyn Center MN announces its Sesquicentennial "Now and Then" Celebration to celebrate its 150th anniversary, Monday May 28, 2012, 11 a.m. Contact Dan Kantar, 952-935-0954, for more information.

Celebrate Minnesota Museums Month Events

Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm MN, celebrates Minnesota Museums Month during the month of May with a series of special events and programming. For more information visit MDC's website or call 800-372-6437.

Scott County Historical Society and The Landing, Shakopee MN, offer free reciprocal admission for Minnesota Museums Month. Bring your receipt for one basic adult admission from either organization and receive one basic adult admission at the other. Good weekends throughout May. Call 952-445-0378 for more information.

Continuing Education

R&C Seminar
Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office holds its annual Review and Compliance Seminar Tuesday May 15, 2012, 1-5 p.m., at the Minnesota History Center 3M Auditorium, St. Paul MN. Contact Kelly Gragg-Johnson, 651-259-3455, for more information.

Save the Date
Preserve Minnesota 2012 - Historic Preservation Conference will be held September 13-14, 2012 at A Center for the Arts and Kaddatz Galleries in historic downtown Fergus Falls MN.

News

New Website
Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar MN, encourages everyone to check out their new website.

Project Kick-off
Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar MN, will host a "Multi-Purpose Room Project Kick-off," Thursday May 10, 2012, to start fundraising for a community room addition. Contact KCHS, 320-235-1881, for more information.

New Hires
Washington County Historical Society, Stillwater MN, hired new managers for their historic sites this season. David Sandager will manage the Hay Lake School site in Scandia, and Sean Pallas will manage the Warden's House Museum in Stillwater. Both sites open the first weekend in May. Contact WCHS, 651-433-4014 or 651-439-5956, for more information. Photo L to R: Sean Pallas, David Sandager.

Blue Star Museum Program
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, will be participating in Blue Star Museums, Memorial Day to Labor Day. This program allows active duty military members and their immediate families free admission to participating museums across the country.

Fundraiser
Minnesota State Public School Orphanage Museum, Owatonna MN, began a fundraiser for a new trust fund, "The Children Remembered--Orphanage Legacy Trust." The trust will help preserve the grounds, buildings, and stories of the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children.

Field Note