August 2015
Events, Classes and Exhibits

Saturday, Aug. 1

Time Capsule for Families: New House, 1872
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
1872 was an exciting year for the Ramsey family. They were able to move into their new mansion house in St. Paul. Discover what other exciting events made 1872 so important for the Ramsey's in this children's program. Children and their parents can use a timeline map to explore the Ramsey House and collect "time capsule tokens" along the way. Learn about the new foods and discover what new inventions were making life easier. Children can make their own time capsule. 
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: Noon, 12:30 and 1 pm
Fee: $10 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $7 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Living History: Meet the Lindberghs
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Dr. S., Little Falls 
Learn what life was like for Charles Lindbergh growing up on a farm during the First World War. Costumed characters portraying Lindbergh family members and neighbors will provide insights into young Charles’ interests in aviation, technology and nature. Hear inside stories about the Lindbergh family and have the chance to try some of the chores Charles did around the farm. Experience the life of this ordinary boy who grew up to do extraordinary things. 
Phone: 320-616-5421 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm. Last tour leaves at 4 pm. 
Fee: $8 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; free age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also August 15 

Civilian Conservation Corps Tour
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
The Civilian Conservation Corps was an essential part of the Great Depression. As a public work relief program, the CCC employed young men to work on projects that benefited conservation and natural resources. Projects included constructing the beautiful stone buildings in many of Minnesota's state parks, including Fort Ridgely State Park. Take a walking tour of the grounds to learn about the history of the CCC and what life was like for these young men. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 2 pm
Fee: $3 

Summit Avenue Walking Tours
James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul 
Take a 90-minute tour of the Summit Avenue neighborhood, named one of America's "Great Streets" in 2008. The walking tours highlight the Gilded-Age mansions that line the elite avenue and the people who owned them and built them. Guides will talk about the architecture, social history and current preservation issues of the historic neighborhood. The tour covers 1.5 miles starting at the James J. Hill House, proceeding west on Summit Avenue, returning via side streets and alleyways and concluding outside the Cathedral of St. Paul. All areas are handicapped accessible, but some side streets are cobblestone and have historic stone curbs. Call for group tour information.
Phone: 651-297-2555 
Time: 11 am and 2 pm. Saturdays; 2 pm Sundays 
Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 ages 6-17; $2 discount for MNHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online 
Also Every Saturday and Sunday, May through September 

Women’s Work Tour with History Player Eva Valesh
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Join a costumed actor portraying labor writer Eva Valesh for a walking tour that highlights working conditions along the Minneapolis riverfront in the late 1880s. The guide will discuss jobs that were available to women in the late 19th and early 20th century, key events in women’s labor history in Minneapolis, and the factories that Valesh exposed including the North Star Woolen Mill, which still stands two blocks from Mill City Museum. Valesh served as labor editor for the Saint Paul Globe and the Minneapolis Tribune before going on to national acclaim working for Samuel Gompers as assistant editor of the American Federationist.
The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum, where participants can visit the museum’s gallery, included in the price of the tour. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MNHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Kids Crafts: Cornhusk Dolls
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Children will learn how to make a corn husk doll to take home. Corn husk dolls are made out of the outer covering of an ear of corn and are typically made during the fall. Participants will receive a kit that includes materials for the doll and an instructional handout. Please allow an hour to make the craft. This project is recommended for children ages 8 and up. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Fee: $6 per kit (museum admission not included)

History Architecture Crawls: Mid-Century Modern
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Explore hallmarks of mid-century modern design by the likes of Ralph Rapson, Close Architects, Eliel Saarinen and more. The tour is on an air-conditioned bus and includes up to two blocks of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The bus departs from the Minnesota History Center. Guests are asked to arrive by 8:45 am.
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 9 am to noon 
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members.
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Bars, Bootleggers and Booze Bus Tour
Minnesota History Center 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
*SOLD OUT*
Cocktail rooms and high end mixology are trends matched only by our current thirst for microbrews. Booze and hooch have a rich history in the Twin Cities, including legacy brands like Phillips, founded in 1912; and Minnesota 13, a high quality distilled spirit beloved throughout the Midwest during Prohibition. Today’s microdistilleries are growing quickly, with local upstarts 11Wells and Du Nord opening cocktail rooms this year. Hop on the bus and bring your ID for a tour of the twin cities’ boozy past and future, samples included! 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $35/$30 for MNHS members. 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015

Sunday, Aug. 2

36th West Newton Day
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
This 36th-annual event celebrates the heritage of the Minnesota settlement of West Newton, which was located halfway between New Ulm and Fort Ridgely from 1856 to 1901. View historical photos from Bob and Agnes Gleisner and read about the history of Alexander Harkin and his family, the founders of the 1870s Harkin Store.
Descendants of West Newton's earliest settlers are invited to share their stories and any old photographs. Historic site staff will copy information and photos.
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Minneapolis Riverfront Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Walk the Minneapolis riverfront and learn about its dramatic past and bright future. Participants will visit the historic district at St. Anthony Falls, which was once the milling center of the world and is now a growing cultural, recreational and residential neighborhood. A guide from Mill City Museum will lead visitors onto the Stone Arch Bridge for a spectacular view of the falls, the historic buildings surrounding it and downtown Minneapolis, and tell stories of the people who have worked and lived in the area and how it has changed over the years. The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm 
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission. 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online
Also August 29 

Tuesday, Aug. 4

Huck Finn Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
*SOLD OUT*
The classic book "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" serves as the basis for this camp for the adventurous and active child. Campers will explore the book and its themes of adventure and childhood fun through hands-on activities in the unique setting of Historic Fort Snelling. Activities include fishing, hiking, cooking outdoors, canoeing and much more. Space is limited to 14 each week. This camp has received Nickelodeon's Parent's Choice Award. For ages 9-12.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Fee: $250/$225 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 
Also August 5, August 6, August 7 

Little House in the Big Fort Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
*SOLD OUT*
Experience the life described in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s "Little House" books. Campers will sing the songs, play the games, and make the food and crafts that Wilder learned while growing up on the western frontier in the 19th century. Sessions I, II and III focus on the books "Little House in the Big Woods," "Little House on the Prairie," "Farmer Boy" and "On the Banks of Plum Creek." Sessions IV, V and VI focus on the books "Shores of Silver Lake," "The Long Winter," "Little Town on the Prairie," and "These Happy Golden Years." Space is limited to 16. For ages 7-11.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Fee: $250/$225 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 
Also August 5, August 6, August 7 

Tours for People with Memory Loss
James J. Hill House 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul 
*SOLD OUT* 
Take a sensory-based tour designed for people with memory loss and their caregivers. Each themed tour highlights three rooms in the James J. Hill House and is followed by an optional social time with pastries and coffee. Tours are offered the first Tuesday of every month. Tours are made possible through funding by the Bader Foundation.
Phone: 651-297-2555 
Time: 10 am to 11:30 am
Fee: Free 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015

Nooks and Crannies Tour
James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Ave., St. Paul 
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the back staircases, dust chutes, silver vault and more on this 90-minute tour of the Hill House. Visitors will see the top-floor attic with original theater, take the back stairs to the basement, view storage areas not on the regular tour, and take a peek inside the gatehouse overlooking Summit Avenue. Guides will also discuss the technological innovations present in the house at the time of its construction in the late 19th century, and the difficulties of preserving such a building today. The 7 pm tour is led by a costumed interpreter portraying a construction worker or house servant. 
Phone: 651-297-2555 
Time: 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 pm 
Fee: $12 adults, $10 seniors and college students, $8 for ages 6-17; $2 discount for MNHS members
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online
Also August 11, August 18, August 25 

9 Nights of Music: The Kong and Shu Project
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Join the Kong and Shu Project, two brothers who write folk-rock and pop songs in their native Hmong language. This performance is being offered in conjunction with the History Center exhibit "We Are Hmong Minnesota." 9 Nights of Music is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 pm to 8 pm. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. 9 Nights of Music is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, Aug. 5

Mill City Live: PaviElle
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
PaviElle French is a neo soul vocalist, activist, dancer, and actress. Her new endeavor is a musical collaboration with bassist, producer and composer Casey O’Brien to present 10 years of her songwriting, all of it deeply personal and autobiographical. Fear Not is a new independently produced record that represents her return to performing after a five year hiatus.

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four outdoor concerts in August by some of the best local artists for a unique happy hour experience. Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 to 9 pm. Food and drink by D’Amico Catering is available for purchase. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm 
Fee: $5/free for MNHS members; includes museum admission from 4 pm to 9 pm 
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555

History Pub Crawls: Summit Hill
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Bask in the Victorian grace of St. Paul’s Summit Hill and discover the stories and people behind the epic rise, fall and rise again of one of the city’s most fashionable historical addresses. Follow the path of the old streetcars past 19th-century homes, luxury hotels and the former haunts of F. Scott Fitzgerald and enjoy stops at W.A. Frost and the University Club. This tour is on an air-conditioned bus and includes four blocks of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Ages 21 and up only. Drink purchases are not included in the tour price. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 7 pm to 9:15 pm (bus departs at 7 pm) 
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members 
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online 
Also August 12, August 19, August 26
 
Thursday, Aug. 6

Children's Day
Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River 
Children of all ages can join in the chores that kids did on farms more than 100 years ago. Help load hay into a wagon pulled by Coulter and Toby, the farm’s oxen; help unload the hay into the barn; try to get the laundry clean using a scrub board without the calves eating the soap; haul baskets of weeds out of the garden; and play 19th-century games including Cat’s Cradle or Grandmother’s Footsteps. 
Phone: 763-441-6896 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; free age 5 and under and MNHS members

Friday, Aug. 7

55th Birthday Celebration
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Help celebrate the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post's 55th birthday. Cupcakes and refreshments will be provided. Explore the exhibits, including the popular Four Seasons Room with life-size dioramas, then head next door to shop for Ojibwe arts and crafts at the Trading Post. As part of the celebration there will be 10-percent off purchases for the day. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Farm Fresh Fridays
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
The Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post hosts Farm Fresh Fridays during select Fridays this summer. Local farmers and growers are invited to set up booths to sell fresh fruits, vegetables, honey and other regionally grown food products. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 4 pm to 7 pm
Fee: Free

Mendota After Hours: A Part of this Great Struggle: The Civil War Experiences of Thomas and William Christie
Sibley Historic Site, 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota 
Have a drink with your friends at the Sibley House while learning about the Civil War experiences of Thomas and William Christie. Minnesota was the first state to promise troops to the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War, and among those answering the call were two brothers, Thomas and William Christie. Together they enlisted in the 1st Minnesota Light Artillery and fought in some of the most ferocious battles of the war. Both survived the war and returned home to Minnesota changed men. Join historian Hampton Smith, editor of the book "Brother of Mine: The Civil War Letters of Thomas and William Christie," as he shares stories of the brothers' experiences. Smith is a reference librarian at the Minnesota Historical Society with expertise in Civil War and military history. Cash bar provided by Lucky’s 13 Pub in Mendota. This program is for ages 21 years and older. 
Phone: 651-452-1596 
Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm 
Fee: $15/$12 MNHS members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Saturday, Aug. 8

Vince Botz, Stearns County and the Dakota War of 1862
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Author Vince Botz will discuss the collection of information he has compiled for his book "Stearns County and the Dakota War of 1862." The Minnesota River Valley communities suffered the most devastation, but Stearns County was also touched by events during this dangerous time in our history. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required.

Soldier One-Day Camp
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
Attention all recruits! Enlist in the 5th Regiment for an afternoon of fun at Historic Fort Snelling. "New recruits" will learn about the lives of soldiers during the 1820s at Fort Snelling. Campers will learn to march and drill, watch musket and cannon firings and much more. Space is limited to 12. For ages 8-12.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: Noon to 4 pm
Fee: $50/$45 for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Geology Discovery Day
Jeffers Petroglyphs, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Discover the unique geological features of the Jeffers Petroglyphs. At 2 pm, a tour highlighting the interesting features of the rock will take place with American Indian and geological perspectives. Throughout the day explore displays about the geology of Southern Minnesota.
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm; tour at 2 pm 
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Engineering the Falls Tour with History Player William de la Barre
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Take a walking tour of St. Anthony Falls led by costumed History Player William de la Barre, the Austrian engineer who spent half a century developing Minneapolis flour milling and waterpower. Participants will visit the Minneapolis Riverfront, the west-side milling district and the Stone Arch Bridge, and hear about the many ways the falls has changed over the years. The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission. 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online 
Also August 30 

Henry Sibley: Minnesota's Controversial Founding Father
Sibley Historic Site, 1357 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota 
In this 60-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the controversial life and career of Minnesota's first governor, Henry Hastings Sibley. Sibley was a national politician, a founder of the Minnesota Territory and leading architect of its constitution. He was also a newly arrived fur trader in 1834. Join a walking tour of the Sibley Historic Site as guides lead a discussion about the many views of Sibley, including his reputation as a leader who bridged Dakota and European-American cultures, but also his role in controversial treaty negotiations, as well as in battles and trials against the Dakota, the exile of Dakota people and the punitive expeditions against them after the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. 
Phone: 651-452-1596 
Time: 11 am, noon, 1 pm and 2 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 
Also August 22 

Sunday, Aug. 9

Best of the Wurst Old Time Music
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Listen to old time music by the "Best of the Wurst" band featuring Marv, Vern and friends. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, or take a seat on the porch for the afternoon. Visit the 1870s general store and chat with costumed staff as you learn how the town of West Newton was built around river trade and what happened when railroads took over. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Washburn A Mill Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Take an in-depth look at the historic Washburn A Mill complex and the award-winning Mill City Museum building. A museum interpreter will take visitors into the building’s many nooks and crannies, highlighting the lives of the men and women who worked there, how the building functioned during its peak flour milling years and the many changes to the building over time. This is the only opportunity for a guided tour through the entire museum building and the only chance to see some of its non-public spaces. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Tour includes museum admission. 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online 

Tuesday, Aug. 11

History Film Series: Minnesota and World War II
Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, 1620 Lindbergh Dr. S., Little Falls 
View two short documentaries exploring Minnesota's involvement in World War II. In “Through a Soldier’s Eyes,” Staff Sergeant Dillon Jennings is a Minnesota soldier serving in the 34th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Red Bulls. After his 22-month deployment to Iraq he learned that his great-grandfather had also served with the 34th Infantry during World War II. In May of 2014, Dillon Jennings and then-Brigadier General Neal Loidolt accompanied a production team from Twin Cities Public Television to tour some of the WWII sites where the 34th fought in Italy. 

The second film is “Reaching New Heights: Secret Stories of the Mayo Clinic Aero Medical Unit.” Go behind the scenes of Mayo's top-secret WWII aeronautical research through rare, classified films and archival material. See how Mayo discoveries, with the assistance of Charles A. Lindbergh, helped the Allies win the war, launched the era of jet aviation and led to the development of the U.S. space program. Films starts at 7 pm. The museum and gift shop will be open for a short time before and after the film screening. 
Phone: 320-616-5421 
Time: 7 pm 
Fee: Free

9 Nights of Music: Nikaido, Sorvari and Kazama
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Nikaido, Sorvari and Kazama are a group of friends whose unique musical blend is best described as "cosmic" Japanese pop. During intermission, the Junshin Peace Singers from Nagasaki will perform. This program is offered in partnership with the St. Paul/Nagasaki Sister City Committee in celebration of 60 years of friendship. Preshow activities begin at 5:30 pm with kite making and flying. 

9 Nights of Music is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 pm to 8 p.m. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. 9 Nights of Music  is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 5:30 pm preshow, 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, Aug. 12

Mill City Live: Black Diet
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Black Diet is a garage/indie/soul band with a sartorial flair. They are recent winners of Vita.mn’s Are You Local? Showcase and named one of First Avenue’s Best New Bands of 2013. They recently released their debut album, “Find Your Tambourine.” Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four outdoor concerts in August by some of the best local artists for a unique happy hour experience. Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 pm to 9 pm. Food and drink by D’Amico Catering is available for purchase. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm 
Fee: $5/free for MNHS members; includes museum admission from 4 pm to 9 pm
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555

Grandparent's Day
Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River 
Grandparents and grandchildren are invited to spend the day together engaged in 19th-century farming. Share stories with each other and the farm hands while experiencing the garden, meeting animals and helping with the cooking. 
Phone: 763-441-6896 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17, $5 grandparents; free for ages 5 and under and MNHS members

Thursday, Aug. 13

Hennepin Island Hydropower Tours
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Mill City Museum and Xcel Energy will partner on a series of weekday walking tours highlighting the story of waterpower at St. Anthony Falls, including rare access to an operating power plant. During the early 20th century, more than two dozen mills and hydroelectric plants used the water power from St. Anthony Falls. Today there is just one left: Xcel Energy’s Hennepin Island Hydroelectric Plant. On this tour, a Mill City Museum guide will lead participants to Hennepin Island and Father Hennepin Bluffs Park, including special access to the power plant. Along the way, participants will learn about the historic uses of waterpower at the falls for flour milling, sawmilling and hydroelectricity, the role of hydroelectricity in Xcel Energy’s green energy and energy efficiency initiatives and the future of waterpower on the Minneapolis riverfront. 

Tours depart from 125 Main Street SE (at the green awning between Pracna on Main and the Aster Café). The tour includes about 1.5 miles of moderately-paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Tours are held rain or shine. Please dress accordingly. Hennepin Island Hydropower Tours are presented by Xcel Energy. This event is for ages 18 and up. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm to 2:30 pm 
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 for MNHS members. Tour includes a voucher for Mill City Museum admission. 
Reservations: recommended, call 612-341-7555 or register online
Also August 27 

Friday, Aug. 14

Ramsey After Dark: Victorian Superstitions
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
Superstitions were a part of Victorian society, from wedding cakes and dating customs, to séances and spirit writing. Explore the mysterious and unique world of Victorian superstitions in this 75-minute program. Hear excerpts from Ramsey family journals and play Victorian fortune telling games in the parlor. Discover how and why superstitions captured the Victorian imagination. 
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: 7 pm and 8:30 pm 
Fee: $10 adults, $9 seniors and college students; $2 discount for MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Saturday, Aug. 15

Wonders of the Night Sky Festival
Forest History Center, 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids 
Join meteorologist Mike Lynch and other astronomers to view the wonders of the night sky. Mike will have his large reflecting telescopes set up for viewing, including two giant 20-inch reflector telescopes that are among the largest mobile telescopes in Minnesota. Learn about celestial photography, as Mike takes amazing photos that will be made available to participants at no additional charge. Camping and RV parking will be permitted at the Forest History Center for this event without additional charge. 
Phone: 218-327-4482 
Time: 9:30 pm to 1 am
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6 to 17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Causes of the U.S.- Dakota War of 1862 and Battlefield Tour
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
At 1 pm, independent historian John LaBatte will examine the causes of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862, drawing on personal stories from his Dakota and settler ancestors. At 2:30 pm, LaBatte will lead a tour of the parade grounds. For the August program, the New Ulm Battery will demonstrate cannon fire and discuss what life was like for soldiers during the war, and Dan Cochran will demonstrate and sell his handmade leather work. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 1 pm program, 2:30 pm tour 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required.

Pickling, Drying and Sugaring Day
Historic Forestville, 21899 County Road #118, Preston 
Throughout the growing season, there are periods of shortage and abundance of foods, making preservation an essential part of life. Assist the gardeners in picking the freshest and plumpest garden vegetables including peppers, cucumbers, beets, onions, cabbage and other heirloom varieties, all traditionally found in Thomas Meighen’s garden. Then head inside the kitchen as interpreters demonstrate various 19th-century food preservation techniques including ways to preserve meats, vegetables and fruits, and employing sugar, vinegar, salt and alcohol as preservatives. Preserving demonstrations will depend on available produce. 
Phone: 507-765-2785 
Time: 10 am to 4 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members. State park vehicle permit required. 
Also August 22 

Civil War Weekend: Coming Home
Historic Fort Snelling, 200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul 
As the Civil War drew to a close in late spring 1865, many of Minnesota’s veterans began the long trek home. Units returned to St. Paul via the Mississippi River, then reported to Fort Snelling where they awaited mustering out of federal service. This special Civil War Sesquicentennial event will recreate what homecoming was like for Minnesota's soldiers and their loved ones. Explore the fort with costumed staff and reenactors and visit interactive leaning stations. Demonstrations include cannon and musket firings, speeches, military ceremonies and more. Plus, stop in the visitor center to take in the traveling exhibit "Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War," view short films produced by the Minnesota Civil War Task Force and hear from guest speakers throughout the weekend.
Phone: 612-726-1171 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm
Fee: $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members. 
Also August 16 

Celebrate the Garden Harvest Family Day
Jeffers Petroglyphs, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
One thousand years ago the people of Minnesota, Iowa and the Northern Plains were farmers as well as hunters, growing crops such as sweet corn. The ripening of the first sweet corn was a time of plenty that was celebrated with the Green Corn festival. Taste fire roasted sweet corn, bean soup and other seasonal foods while learning about the people of the Great Plains Village period. Guests will also learn how New World farmers developed crops that changed the world. 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 1 pm to 5 pm
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Riverfront Quest Family Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Try questing with a tour of the Minneapolis riverfront. A quest is a treasure hunt that guides people through, and teaches them to see, a unique part of their community. This quest includes solving rhyming riddles and searching for hidden boxes with pictures to place in a quest journal that participants can make before the tour. Journal materials and admission to Mill City Museum are included in the tour cost. The tour is designed for ages 6-11, but can be enjoyed by all ages. Adults and seniors must accompany a child. The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm (Bookmaking 1 pm to 1:30 pm, tour 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm) 
Fee: $11 adults,, $10 children ages 6-17, $9 seniors and college students, $7 MNHS members ages 6-17; free for adult MNHS members. Includes museum admission.
 Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online 

Cornerstone Academy: Old Windows Workshop
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Would you spend $50 to save $1000? In this hands-on workshop, historic window specialist Paul Schmidt of Restoration Window Systems shows how repairing original windows can save money, improve window operation, boost energy efficiency and maintain architectural integrity. Get a thorough overview on how to repair drafts, deal with glazing and sashes, fix broken glass and much more. 

Cornerstone Academy offers a series of classes on ways to preserve historic buildings, produced by the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society. This program is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. Tickets must be purchased a week before the event. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 11:30 am to 3:30 pm 
Fee: $50 per person. 
Reservations: required; call 612-726-1171 or register online 

History Architecture Crawls: Cass Gilbert Home and Building Tour
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
From his first St. Paul apprenticeship through his 1934 design of the United States Supreme Court building in Washington D.C., Cass Gilbert built a national reputation as one of the most prolific and stylistically versatile architects of his generation. Explore the exteriors and interiors of public buildings and gracious homes designed by Cass Gilbert. Highlights this year include the Pioneer Endicott Building (which housed Gilbert’s office) and private homes. 

The tour is on an air-conditioned bus and includes up to two blocks of moderately-paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The bus departs from the Minnesota History Center. This program is presented in partnership with the Cass Gilbert Society.
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 9 am to noon and 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $35/$30 for MNHS and Cass Gilbert Society members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

History Architecture Crawls: Cass Gilbert Experience
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
This exclusive program builds on the Home and Building Tour but includes special access, additional content and a private lunch inside a Gilbert-designed home. Ted Lentz, architect and president of the Cass Gilbert Society, will provide commentary about the Pioneer Endicott Building where Gilbert had his office, and private homes on the tour. The owners of the Emerson Hadley House will host lunch and provide private tours of the home which was completed by Gilbert in 1895 and is currently undergoing restoration. 

The tour is on an air-conditioned bus and includes up to two blocks of moderately-paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The bus departs from the Minnesota History Center. This program is presented in partnership with the Cass Gilbert Society. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Fee: $90/$75 for MNHS and Cass Gilbert Society members 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online

The Useful Art of Pickling
Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd., Elk River 
The useful art of pickling provided families with a variety of foods throughout the long winter months 150 years ago. Visitors will help make pickles while learning about sweet and sour pickles and other varieties that were popular with the Kelleys and families like them. 
Phone: 763-441-6896 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm Saturday; noon to 5 pm Sunday 
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members
Also August 16 

Sunday, Aug. 16

U.S.-Dakota War of 1862: Paul Kietzmann Party
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Join Curtis Dahlin for a talk based on his new book "Friends, Betrayal and Murders: The Massacre of the Paul Kietzmann Party." Dahlin will retell the events surrounding one of the deadliest attacks of the U.S.-Dakota War of 1862. The Paul Kietzmann Party was in Flora Township in Renville County in August 1862, when the attack happened resulting in 27 killed and 27 taken captive. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 1 pm to 2:30 pm 
Fee: Free

Bees and Honey
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Honey was found on the prairie and was also harvested by pioneers. View a display created by Crystal Bock and listen as she talks about the equipment used for making honey. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Railroad History Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Beginning with the arrival of Minnesota’s first rail line in 1862, Minneapolis boomed in population and flour milling, lumber production and warehousing took off. Take a guided tour of railroad landmarks, including the Stone Arch Bridge, Milwaukee Road Depot and the Minneapolis Eastern Railway engine house and trestle. Along the way, find clues to the vanishing railroad landscape and learn about the future of Twin Cities rail. The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour will begin and end at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission. 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Tuesday, Aug. 18

9 Nights of Music: New Riverside Ramblers
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Join the New Riverside Ramblers for high-energy Cajun dance music from the prairies and bayous of south Louisiana up-river to Minneapolis-St. Paul. 9 Nights of Music is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 pm to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. 9 Nights of Music is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, Aug. 19

Dakota Day
Lower Sioux Agency, 32469 Redwood County Hwy. 2, Morton 
Enjoy free admission and refreshments on this day honoring the Dakota. 
Phone: 507-697-6321 
Time: 4 pm to 8 pm 
Fee: Free

Mill City Live: Malamanya
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Malamanya is a six-member Minneapolis-based band comprised of a diverse group of musicians who share a mutual respect and enthusiasm for traditional rhythms and melodies of Latin American and Caribbean music. Their onstage energy and compositions reflect the communal, complex and celebratory spirit prevalent in these musical genres. Malamanya has performed over four years around the Twin Cities. 

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four outdoor concerts in August by some of the best local artists for a unique happy hour experience. Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 pm to 9 pm. Food and drink by D’Amico Catering is available for purchase. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm 
Fee: $5/free for MNHS members; includes museum admission from 4 pm to 9 pm 
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555

Lincoln Lecture with Historian Harold Holzer
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Join Harold Holzer, leading American authority on Abraham Lincoln, for this exclusive lecture about Lincoln's masterful and sometimes controversial use of the media. Holzer will focus on 1864, a time when an election loomed in the shadow of the Civil War and the nation was dealing with the aftermath of the Emancipation Proclamation. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 7 pm 
Fee: $15/$11 MNHS members 
Reservations: recommended; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Thursday, Aug. 20

Two-Part Trail Tour: The Prairie and The Big Woods
Traverse des Sioux Historic Site, 1851 N. Minnesota Avenue, St. Peter 
Join naturalist Scott Kudelka for a two-part tour of the Traverse des Sioux trails to learn about two very different landscapes on either side of the Minnesota River—the prairie and the Big Woods. Take a tour of the Big Woods to examine how the forests formed, discover some of the rare animal species that live in the woods and how the woods have changed over time. The dense forest dominated by maple and basswood once covered 3,000 square miles across southern Minnesota reaching to present-day Mankato. Called "Bois Grand" or "Big Woods" by early French explorers, it was recognized as a distinct area from other hardwood forests. Trail tours start at the Treaty Site History Center. 
Phone: via MHS historic sites, 507-697-6321 
Time: 7 pm 
Fee: Free. Treaty Site History Center: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Saturday, Aug. 22

Real Horse Power
Forest History Center, 2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids 
The draft horse powered much of America well into the 20th century. Logging and lumbering, one of the nation’s largest and most important industries, relied heavily on the powerful Percheron draft horse to move the huge white pine logs from the forest to landings on the river. This program features horses doing traditional tasks such as skidding, cross hauling and jammer loading. See draft horses up close and talk to the teamsters.
Phone: 218-327-4482 
Time: 10 am to 5 pm 
Fee: $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6 to 17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

My Dear Wife and Children with Author Nick K. Adams
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Join Nick K. Adams as he speaks about his new book "My Dear Wife and Children." The book is based on letters that have been passed down through Adam's family, including letters written by his great-great-grandfather who served as a volunteer in company F with the 2nd Minnesota during the Civil War. The letters were written between 1861-1863. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 1 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required.

Date Night at the Fort
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Explore the prairie with a friend or someone special, at its most peaceful time, in the evening. Watch the stars as they come out, take a walk, enjoy food and drinks and a few other surprises. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: 7 pm 
Fee: $10 

Historic Main Street Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Stroll through Minneapolis’ oldest neighborhood with a Mill City Museum guide, and learn about the rich past and exciting future of historic Main Street. The tour will highlight life in the village of St. Anthony, changes along Main Street throughout the years, and such landmarks as the 1855 Upton Block, 1858 Martin and Morrison Building, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the Pillsbury A Mill and the Chalybeate Mineral Springs. 

This tour begins and ends at 125 Main Street SE (at the green awning between Pracna on Main and the Aster Café). The tour includes one mile of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm 
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 for ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission. 
Reservations: required; call 612-341-7555 or register online

Mill City Harvest Day
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Mill City Museum and the Oliver H. Kelley Grange present Mill City Harvest Day, a series of family activities about harvest time in the nineteenth century. Families can make seed art, observe a traditional drill and meeting opening, help thresh grain as farmers did in the 1860s and check out the Science of Butter demonstrations in the Baking Lab. History Player Mary Dodge Woodward will share about harvest time on a bonanza farm. There will be story time with a book-making project and fresh bread to taste in the baking lab. Come early to enjoy entertainment and other late summer related activities at the Mill City Farmers Market. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: Noon to 3 pm 
Fee: Programs included with museum admission of $11 adults, $9 seniors and college students, $6 ages 6-17; free for MNHS members

St. Paul’s Brewing History Tour
Summit Brewing, 910 Montreal Circle, St Paul 
Seek out a new go-to brew and learn about Saint Paul’s hoppy past. New breweries springing up around St. Paul are a powerful testament to today’s fascination with the sudsy stuff, but St. Paul’s first brewery dates back to 1849. Today, remnants of St. Paul’s historic brewing past include the imposing old Hamm’s and Schmidt breweries. This meandering three-hour bus tour features samples, conversation and hidden gems along the way.

The tour starts and ends at Summit Brewing, 910 Montreal Circle, St. Paul. It takes place on an air-conditioned bus and includes up to two blocks of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. Ages 21 and up only. 
Phone: 651-259-3015
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $35/$30 MNHS members
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

Sunday, Aug. 23

A Day in the Life of a Pioneer Woman
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Pioneer women worked alongside men in the development of the state of Minnesota. Through various displays learn about the work they did around the house in the 1870s including sewing, cooking, cleaning, gardening and child-rearing. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Disasters of the Riverfront Tour
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
The rise and fall of the St. Anthony Falls milling district led to some of the most tragic disasters in Minnesota history. On this tour, hear the stories of fires, floods, explosions, collapses and other calamities; explore the consequences for the people involved; and learn what these tales reveal about Minneapolis history. Stories include the Eastman Tunnel Collapse in 1869, the Great Conflagration of 1893, bridge collapses in 1859 and 2007, numerous fires and massive landscape changes. The tour includes 1.5 miles of moderately paced walking on uneven surfaces. Please call ahead to make arrangements for guests with limited mobility. The tour begins and ends at Mill City Museum. Tours are held rain or shine.
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 1 pm 
Fee: $14 adults, $12 seniors and college students, $10 ages 6-17 and MNHS members. Includes museum admission. 
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555 or register online 

Open House
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Explore the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post during the annual open house, when the historic site is open for special Sunday hours and offers free admission. Visit the exhibits including the popular Four Seasons Room with life-size dioramas then head next door to shop for Ojibwe arts and crafts at the Trading Post. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 11 am to 4 pm 
Fee: Free

Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post Fun Run
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Take a short walk around the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Powwow grounds and earn a free gift courtesy of the Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post. Registration for the walk is located at the pavilion on the powwow grounds. Please note this event does not take place at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 9 am to 10:30 am 
Fee: Free

Tuesday, Aug. 25

9 Nights of Music: Justin Roberts with Liam Davis Present A Family Music All-Star Show
Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 
Grammy-nominated Justin Roberts and Liam Davis present original power rock tunes for kids and families. Drawing on the audience, the duo create participatory music that gets kids moving. Come early for preshow lawn games and bubble blowing beginning at 5:30 pm. 9 Nights of Music  is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction at 6:30 pm. Live music starts at 7 pm. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Café Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 pm to 8 pm. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 pm. 9 Nights of Music is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by MPR and Tapestry Folkdance Center. 
Phone: 651-259-3000 
Time: 5:30 pm preshow, 6:30 pm dance instruction, 7 pm live music 
Fee: Free

Wednesday, Aug. 26

Mill City Live: Davina and the Vagabonds
Mill City Museum, 704 South Second Street, Minneapolis 
Davina and the Vagabonds is a band known for their high-energy stage performances and their genre-busting mix of jazz, blues and roots music. Led by Florida transplant Davina Sower’s powerful and evocative voice, this guitar-less, horn-heavy band has the ability to make any crowd happy. The band’s 2011 recording "Black Cloud," was named one of the 10 best releases of the year by the Minneapolis Star & Tribune. In 2014, they released "Sunshine." 

Set in the museum's dramatic open air Ruin Courtyard, Mill City Live features four outdoor concerts in August by some of the best local artists for a unique happy hour experience. Visit Mill City Museum before or after the show, the $5 concert fee includes admission to the museum from 4 pm to 9 pm. Food and drink by D’Amico Catering is available for purchase. 
Phone: 612-341-7555 
Time: 6 pm to 8 pm 
Fee: $5/free for MNHS members; includes museum admission from 4 pm to 9 pm 
Reservations: recommended; call 612-341-7555

Thursday, Aug. 27

History Happy Hour: Historical Hoaxes
Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul 
Have a drink with friends at the Ramsey House while learning about historical hoaxes. Join Jenny McElroy, reference specialist with the Minnesota Historical Society, as she shares the stories and details about the greatest historical fakes, frauds and flimflams in Minnesota history, from Lord Gordon-Gordon to the Minnesota Iceman. This program is for people 21 years and older. Admission includes two drinks, snacks, presentation and time to mingle in the mansion. 
Phone: 651-296-8760 
Time: 5:30 pm and 8:30 pm 
Fee: $25/$20 for MNHS members. 
Reservations: required; call 651-259-3015 or register online 

History On-A-Schtick! at the Fair
Minnesota State Fair, 1265 Snelling Avenue North, St. Paul 
Experience a lighthearted, vaudevillian romp through Minnesota’s past at the Minnesota State Fair's Schilling Amphitheater in the West End Market. This new daily show is 23 minutes of wacky fun, with sing-alongs, trivia, prizes and astonishing historical tidbits presented by the Minnesota Historical Society. Brought to you by the Minnesota State Fair Foundation and the Minnesota Historical Society. This event is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. 
Phone: 651-288-4400 
Time: 9:30 am 
Fee: Free with State Fair admission
Also August 28, August 29, August 30, August 31 

Saturday, Aug. 29

Children’s Games and Craft Day
Fort Ridgely, 72404 County Road 30, Fairfax 
Families can play games on the parade grounds including field ball, stilts and graces. Inside the commissary building make a hanky doll or a catapult to take home. 
Phone: 507-934-2160 
Time: Noon to 4 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members. State Park vehicle permit required.

Animals of the Night
Jeffers Petroglyphs, 27160 County Road 2, Comfrey 
Take a guided tour of the carvings when they are best seen, as the sun begins to set at 6 pm. After the tour, head to the visitor center for a 7:15 pm presentation about nocturnal animals and how they survive at night. The presentation will include a variety of hands-on activities. Following the presentation, guests can go on a twilight hike of the prairie (bring a flashlight!). 
Phone: 507-628-5591 
Time: 5:30 pm to 9 pm 
Fee: $7 adults, $6 seniors and college students, $5 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Ojibwe Mitten Workshop
Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, 43411 Oodena Dr., Onamia 
Learn techniques of leather working at this two-day workshop. Participants will make a pair of Ojibwe-style mittens to take home. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided both days. A minimum of five participants required to host workshop. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required 3 days prior to workshop. Discounted hotel rooms are available for workshop participants on Saturday night at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. 
Phone: 320-532-3632 
Time: 10 am to 4 pm Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm Sunday 
Fee: $65/$60 for MNHS members; additional $25 supply fee 
Reservations: required; call 320-532-3632 
Also August 30 

Sunday, Aug. 30

Old Schools Day
Harkin Store, Nicollet County Highway 21, New Ulm 
Explore old school houses in Nicollet County, including the Robinson school located in West Newton, with historic photos and old school books. Step back in time at the Harkin Store, where a piece of the 19th century is preserved. Visit the general store, play checkers and relax on the front porch. 
Phone: 507-354-8666 
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm 
Fee: $6 adults, $5 seniors and college students, $4 ages 6-17; free for age 5 and under and MNHS members

Ongoing Exhibits

Minnesota History Center
345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul

Through Aug. 16, 2015	Inspiring Beauty: 50 Years of Ebony Fashion Fair View 40 garments from the Ebony Fashion Fair including pieces from Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Christian Dior, Stephen Burrows, Bill Blass, Patrick Kelly, Bob Mackie and others. “Inspiring Beauty” explores how a world-renowned traveling fashion show, with works from the icons of the fashion world, became a vehicle for African American empowerment, pride and achievement. This exhibit was organized by the Chicago History Museum in cooperation with Johnson Publishing Company. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/ebony	
Through Nov. 29, 2015	We Are Hmong Minnesota November 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Hmong migration to Minnesota following the war in Southeast Asia. Today, the Twin Cities metro area is home to 66,000 Hmong, the largest urban Hmong population in the United States. Developed in partnership with the Hmong community, the new exhibit "We Are Hmong Minnesota," will commemorate the anniversary and celebrate the significant political, social and economic contributions the Hmong have made to Minnesota and the nation. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/exhibits/we-are-hmongminnesota.	
Ongoing	Then Now Wow Designed primarily for children, visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring Minnesota’s distinctive places from the prairies and forests to the cities. Along the way they'll meet the people who have made their homes here. Step inside a prairie sod house; board a Twin Cities streetcar; don a headlamp to venture underground in an Iron Range mine; hitch a ride on a boxcar; sit in a modern tipi; and encounter artifacts and images unique to Minnesota’s diverse people and historic events. “Then Now Wow” is made possible by the Legacy Amendment's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/thennowwow.	
Ongoing	Minnesota’s Greatest Generation: The Depression, The War, The Boom Explore interactive displays and innovative multimedia experiences that reveal the lives and stories of the men and women who came of age during the Depression and World War II and went on to create the postwar “boom.” The exhibition relies substantially on first-person narratives drawn from oral history interviews, published memoirs, reminiscences and letters. For more information visit www.mngreatestgeneration.org.	
Ongoing	Open House: If These Walls Could Talk This interactive exhibit uses a single, existing house in the Railroad Island neighborhood on St. Paul’s East Side as a window into the daily lives of people of the past. Stories of families, from the German immigrants who built the home through the Italians, African Americans and Hmong who succeeded them, are told through rooms representing different eras of the house. For more information visit www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/openhouse.	
Ongoing	Weather Permitting Minnesotans learn to cope with extreme temperatures, watch for signs of storms and generally enjoy the outdoors, whether boating on a summer’s day, skiing down a hill or snowmobiling across snowdrifts. Visit the multimedia tornado exhibit, “Get to the Basement,” named the best museum exhibit in the Twin Cities by City Pages. For more information visit www.mnhs.org/weather.	

James J. Hill House
240 Summit Ave., St. Paul

Through Nov. 29, 2015	Paj Ntaub: Hmong Textiles from the Permanent Collection View 60 highly colorful and intensely intricate pieces of Hmong textile art created by Hmong women who settled in St. Paul. The exhibit showcases appliqué, reverse appliqué, embroidery and cross stitch in traditional art forms, called Paj Ntaub or flower cloth, as well as commercial tourism items including pillowcases, tablecloths, coin purses and clothing. The exhibit draws on the collection of Corrine Pearson who operated the Hmong Handwork consignment store in St. Paul from 1981 to 1999. Labels will be in both Hmong and English. www.mnhs.org/hillhouse.	

Historic Fort Snelling
200 Tower Avenue, St. Paul

Closes Aug. 21, 2015 	Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War Explore how Lincoln used the Constitution to confront three intertwined crises of the Civil War—the secession of Southern states, slavery, and wartime civil liberties. The exhibit will provide a more complete understanding of Abraham Lincoln as president and the Civil War as the nation’s most serious constitutional crisis. The exhibit is presented by the American Library Association and National Constitution Center, and funded by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.