Tentative Grant Deadlines Set
Tentative grant deadlines for the 2014-2015 biennium have been set for the Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage (Legacy) Grants. The first small grants round will have a deadline of Friday June 21, 2013. Required pre-applications for the mid/large grants round will be due Friday August 2, 2013. Check the Legacy grants website for updates. Contact the Grants Office with questions or for assistance with your application process.

Reminder: All information in this notice is subject to change based on legislative action in the spring of 2013.

Final Reports
As your organization wraps up its Minnesota Historical & Cultural Heritage Grants (Legacy Grants), keep in mind that the final reports you complete must be uploaded to the grants portal. The Grants Office can no longer accept paper reports. Materials for final reporting include:

• Signed final report form
• Photographs
• A copy of the final product (examples: manuscript, exhibit text, brochures)
• Invoices or receipts, for grants over $7000
• Signed donated materials or labor forms (optional, if claiming match)

Check your grant agreement for your project end date. Organizations with overdue grant projects are not eligible for further grants, so complete your project and reporting in a timely manner! If you have questions, contact the Grants Office or Melinda Hutchinson, 651-259-3459.

Project Spotlight: New Hjemkomst Exhibit

MHCHG funds were used to fabricate and install a professionally designed exhibit about the voyage of the Hjemkomst for its 30th anniversary.
Recipient: Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County
Funding Amount: $7,000
Project Details

Local History Newsletter Digest: Museum to Feature Maritime Artifacts

The following article was originally printed in "Overlook" Fall 2012. Reprinted with permission from Cook County Historical Society.

Facebook Findings

Minnesota Local History fans number 1112, up four from last week. News of note:

• March is around the corner--have you started planning for Women's History Month programs?
• What is the best, or most appropriate, way to promote women's history?

Inventory Assistant
Danish Immigrant Museum, Elk Horn IA, seeks Inventory Assistant. Deadline: March 8, 2013.

Office Manager
Brown County Historical Society, New Ulm MN, seeks part-time Office Manager. Email resume by March 12, 2013.

Executive Director
Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, seeks Executive Director. 

Book Talk
New Ulm Public Library hosts independent historian Sheila Wingate, who will discuss her book "Courtland, The Early Years 1855-1910," Thursday February 28, 2013, 6 p.m. Call 507-359-8334 for more information.

Exhibit Opening
Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul MN, hosts "New Land, New Life: Norwegian Immigration in Minnesota 1825-1925," an exhibit developed by the Sons of Norway, St. Paul Lodge. Opening reception February 28, 2013, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free.

Benefit Event
Northfield Historical Society hosting Johnny Cash tribute band at the Grand Event Center Saturday, March 2, 2013. There will a be beer and wine tasting featuring a wide variety of Minnesota craft beers and wines, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction with various goods and services from local businesses.

Hjemkomst Film Short
The Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead MN, invites the public to a celebration of unique achievement. On Tuesday March 5, 2013 at the Fargo Theatre in downtown Fargo ND, an eleven-minute documentary short about the 30th anniversary of the sailing of the Hjemkomst Viking ship premieres. For more information on "The Hjemkomst: Thirty Years Later," call 218-299-5511.

Annual Meeting
Join Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, for their 78th Annual Meeting, March 5, 2013, 7 p.m. Short business meeting followed by presentation by D. Stephen Elliott, director of Minnesota Historical Society. Members only. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

Homer Ridge Cemetery
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, hosts Frank Tainter, who will discuss the efforts of a local group to preserve the Pioneer Cemetery of Homer Ridge, March 6, 2013, 12:05 p.m. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

Dig History
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, invites the public to their "Dig History" kickoff campaign meeting, Thursday March 7, 2013, 5-7 p.m., El Parral Ballrom. Free. Find your personal connection to history through genealogy, attending lectures, volunteering, or another medium. Contact MCHS, 507-437-6082, for more information.

Women of Winona
Winona Branch of the American Association of University Women will hold its branch meeting at Winona County History Center, Tuesday March 12, 2013, 7 p.m. WCHS assistant director Jennifer Weaver will speak on the early women of Winona. Contact Susan Cooper, branch president, for more information.

Buffalo Nickel
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, hosts a talk by Executive Director Mark Peterson on the 100-year history of the Buffalo Nickel and the life of its designer, Winona native James Earle Fraser, March 13, 2013, 12:05 p.m. Gail Griffin will also speak on the impact of buffalo on American culture. Call 507-454-2723 for more information.

Irish Music History
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, hosts performer Eileen Ivers, who will speak on Irish music and the fiddle, March 16, 2 p.m. Call 507-545-2723 for more information.

Coffee and Conversation
Join Stearns History Museum, St. Cloud MN, as they welcome local historian and author Bill Morgan for a conversation about his book "Earth, Wood, Stone Volume II," Saturday March 16, 2013, 10:30 a.m. to noon. Call 320-253-8424 for more information.

Authors' Sundays
Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings and Dakota County Historical Society announce the next Authors' Sunday on March 17, 2013, 1 p.m. at the LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN. Featured authors will be Charlie Johnson and Patrick Mader. Call 651-437-7055 for more information.

Polish Egg Decorating
Winona County Historical Society, Winona MN, offers Polish egg decorating workshop, March 19, 2013, 6 p.m. For adults and children over 8 years old; children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost: $8/WCHS members; $10/nonmembers. Call 507-454-2723 to register.

Easter Kids' Kraft
Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee MN, hosts an Easter-themed Kids' Kraft Saturday March 23, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Listen to a reading of "Peter Cottontail" by Amanda Stephens, decorate an Easter basket, and hunt for Easter eggs in the Stans garden. Free, but reservations required. Contact SCHS, 952-445-0378, for more information or to RSVP.

Chocolate Tour
The 11th Annual Inns of the Valley Chocolate March takes place March 3, 10, and 24, 2013. Visit Inns of the Scenic St. Croix Valley while sampling various chocolates. Also take in historic site tours of Folsom House, Taylors Falls MN; The Afton Historical Museum, Afton MN; and LeDuc Historic Estate, Hastings MN. Visit the website or call 651-998-0185 for more information.

New Exhibit in Cloquet
Carlton County Historical Society, Cloquet MN, announces the opening of a new exhibit "Before Cell Phones," now through June 2013. Call 218-879-1938 for more information.

Family History Series
Northfield History Collaborative, a program of Northfield Historical Society, and Northfield Senior Center, Northfield MN, host a four-part series called "Preserving Your Family's History," beginning Saturday March 2, 2013. Attend individual sessions for $15 each ($20/nonmembers) or the full series of four classes for $50 ($60/nonmembers). Call 507-645-9268 for more information.

Smithsonian Institution Webcast
Smithsonian Institution presents a one-day symposium and webcast on the museum preservation environment, Tuesday March 5, 2013.

PastPerfect Workshop
Shelby County Historical Society, Harlan IA, hosts PastPerfect workshop Friday March 8, 2013, 9 a.m. to noon. IMA members: $35; nonmembers: $45. Registration due March 1, 2013.

Genealogy Workshop
Mower County Historical Society, Austin MN, will hold their Genealogy Detectives Workshop on Friday March 15, 2013, 5:30-11 p.m. To allow for one-on-one assistance from staff, preregistration is required and space is limited to the first 8 paid registrations. Fees: $25/MCHS members; $30/nonmembers. Contact MCHS, 507-437-6082, by March 11 to register.

AASLH Conference Scholarship
American Association for State and Local History's Annual Meeting will be held in Birmingham AL, September 18-21, 2013. AASLH's Small Museums Committee offers scholarships to any AASLH members who are full-time, part-time, paid, or volunteer employees of small museums. The $500 scholarship will cover the cost of registration and Small Museums luncheon. Deadline for applications: June 15, 2013.

CPR Anytime
Learn the basics of CPR at Scott County Historical Society, Shakopee MN, Thursday February 28, 2013, 7 p.m. Free! SCHS partners with St. Francis Regional Medical Center to present this program in conjunction with the exhibit "What's Up Doc: Medicine in Scott County." Contact SCHS, 952-445-0378, for more information.

Museum Closure
Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Willmar MN, announces that their museum will be closed Wednesday March 6 through Monday March 11, 2013 for final construction completion. KCHS staff will be available during that time via email.

DAR Meeting
Daughters of the American Revolution is forming a new chapter in the Northeast Metro. Join them at the Ramsey County Library-Shoreview, Saturday March 16, 2013, 2 p.m. for an informational meeting. Contact Dee Dee Edlund for more information.

Student Writing Contest
Minnesota Historical Society and the Civil War Commemoration Task Force are co-sponsoring "Dear President Lincoln," a student writing contest. Students in grades 6-12 pen a reply to the Gettysburg Address. Deadline: April 1, 2013. Email for more information.

Fund Drive
Denmark Township Historical Society, Washington Township MN, announces their final fundraising push for the Save Our School campaign. Donations are due before May 1, 2013. Contact Jean Boyd, 651-436-8031, or Bob Voigt, 612-823-4934, for more information. 

Survey Request
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown NY, requests participation in an online survey. The survey aims to gather feedback to inform several digital initiatives they are undertaking, including a new website and expansion of their mobile apps suite.

Leisure Travel Upswing
Explore Minnesota reports that a University of Minnesota survey predicts higher leisure travel spending in the state in 2013. How will your organization market to leisure travelers this year?