About
The Minnesota Historical Society preserves and makes available a wide range of materials chronicling Minnesota's history and culture. The goals of the Collections Department are to collect and preserve; provide access and interpretation; and engage in education and outreach. This blog is a tool to share these stories and let people know what is happening in the department.
Castone Painting

These are the last days of our fantastic "Art Speaks" exhibit! It closes July 31!
On view is this painting is called "River Scene." It is an oil on canvas by George Castone, 1914.
Born in Missouri, George William Castone was the son of a formerly enslaved woman. In 1911, after years working as a butler in Evanston, Illinois, Castone moved to St. Paul with his wife and four children. He took up painting and worked as a waiter at the Ryan Hotel. He was nine days short of his 100th birthday when he died.