Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Conference and Annual Meeting attendees gather at the Pre-Conference Mixer, hosted by the Nicollet County Historical Society at the Treaty Site History Center. The event brings colleagues together, sparks new connections, and opens several days of shared work. With the conference underway, participants move into sessions, workshops, and discussions on the work of local history organizations across Minnesota. The annual event provides a forum for exchanging ideas and supporting the field.
Large Grant Deadline
Pre-applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants large grant round (requests over $20,000) will be due Friday, May 22, 2026. This is a required part of the large grant application process. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
Small Grant Deadline
Applications for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants quarterly small grant round (requests of $20,000 and less) will be due Friday, July 10, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
MAY Grants Open House
May 7 - Online: The Grants Office will hold a virtual Grants Office Open House using Google Meet from 2 to 3:30 pm in order to provide additional grants support to our communities. We encourage people to RSVP to Gillian with a short summary of what you want to talk about and she will try to ensure that someone helpful will be available. Learn more »
Grants Office YouTube Playlist »
This week's blog post is from the Robbinsdale Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
A Fatal Flight
On September 5th, 1937, a tragic airplane crash near the Robbinsdale Airport claimed the lives of Harriet Frost, 39, manager and vice president of the Frost Paint & Oil Company of Minneapolis, and her flight instructor, Glenn Chase, 28. Frost had taken up flying about two years earlier after frequent commercial airline trips for business sparked her interest in aviation. What began as a hobby quickly became a passion. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Golden Valley Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Setup Assistant - MN History Center
Interpreter I - Mill City Museum
Archivist, Social Welfare History Archives - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Museum Facilitator & Visitor Services Representative - The Bakken Museum, Minneapolis, MN
PR & Social Media Coordinator - Minnesota Landmarks, St. Paul, MN
Managing Director of Events & Exhibits - University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
Historic Site Grounds and Maintenance Technician - Fort Abercrombie, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Abercrombie & Fargo, ND Job: ID3032788
Teacher Workshop Program Assistant - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND Job ID: 3032798
Attractions Director - Wisconsin History Center, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
Director of Development - Grout Museum District, Waterloo, IA
Marketing Manager - Iowa Economic Development Authority, Des Moines, IA
Social Media Manager - Iowa Economic Development Authority, Des Moines, IA
Digital Stewardship Specialist - Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Vice President, Collections and Interpretation - Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL
Metadata and Materials Coordinator (Indigenous Studies) - Newberry Library, Chicago, IL
Tribal Outreach Coordinator - Newberry Library, Chicago, IL
Curator - The American Legion, Indianapolis, IN
Special Exhibits Engagement Specialist - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN
Director, Facilities Management - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
Grounds Technician - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
Manager of Education - Akron Children's Museum, Akron, OH
Executive Director - Oakland History Center, Pontiac, MI
Assistant Registrar for Outgoing Loans - Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, MO
Curator - Legacy of the Plains Museum, Gering, NE
Maintenance Specialist - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE
Visitor Experience Associate - Manitoba Museums, Winnipeg, MB
Visitor Services Representative - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
Prospect Research and Database Manager - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
Heritage Programmer - Pickering Museum Village, City of Pickering, Greenwood, ON
Resident Collections Fellow – Cranbrook Center for Collections & Research, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Eveleth Heritage Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
Who’s Got the Title Belt? Wrestling History
April 29 @ 6 pm to 8 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - Author/historian George Schire presents stories of AWA wrestling's good, bad, and ugly characters who wore championship belts, sharing tales of wrestling's greatest prize. Cost: Free. Learn more »
America's 250th Genealogy Series: Genealogy Workshop
April 30 @ 6 pm to 8 pm - South St. Paul: Dakota County Historical Society - Joint workshop by Dakota County Historical Society’s Genealogy Committee, Minnesota Genealogical Society, and Daughters of the American Revolution as part of America 250th series. Cost: Free ($5 donation suggested). Learn more »
2026 Heritage Family – Wegleitner Family
May 3 @ 2 pm to 4 pm - Shoreview: Shoreview Historical Society - This Heritage Family event features the Wegleitner family, highlighting their contributions and stories to local Shoreview history. Learn more »
Genealogy Club
May 4 @ 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Special guest Linda Westrom, former president of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, joins this genealogy club meeting for research sharing and discussion. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Ghost Signs & Grain Bins: A Look at Minnesota's Farming Heritage
May 5 @ 6:30 pm - Elbow Lake: Grant County Historical Society - Photographer, author, and historian Jay Grammond presents a nostalgic look at advertisements on barns, walls, silos, and grain bins, historic Minnesota farms, trailblazing ag pioneers, and stories shaping the rural landscape. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Heritage, Heroes, and History! The Story of Oakwood Cemetery
May 6 @ 10 am to 11 am - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - New senior programming series explores the 1863-established Oakwood Cemetery with coffee, cookies, great conversation, and a fun, friendly space to connect with others over local history. Cost: Free ($5 suggested donation). Learn more »
America Outdoors: Minnesota
May 7 @ 2 pm to 3:30 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Viewers Like Us Club with Twin Cities PBS and Saint Peter Community & Family Education screens award-winning PBS episode exploring Minnesota’s Arrowhead Region wilderness—birders, wild rice harvesters, geography, outdoor activities, and climate change—with neighbor conversations on history, food, and culture. Cost: Free. Learn more »
SLCHS Repatriation of Pipes to Grand Portage Band
May 9 - Grand Portage: St. Louis County Historical Society - Representatives from SLCHS and American Indian Advisory Committee transfer four pipe bowls and two stems—acquired in 1939 and belonging to last hereditary Chief Joseph Maymushkowaush—to Grand Portage Band of Chippewa at Honor Our Elders Powwow, under NAGPRA cultural significance rules. Location: Grand Portage Community Center. Learn more »
Traditional Dance Workshop
May 9 @ 5 pm to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Somali Museum - Learn various Somali dances and their cultural significance from knowledgeable instructors with deep understanding of Somali performance traditions. Cost: Free. Learn more »
History Unboxed: From the Bleachers to the Archives
May 14 @ 6 pm to 7 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Hands-on exploration of Stearns County’s baseball tradition through historical materials, uncovering how town ball shaped communities and the legacy of the St. Cloud Rox, connecting generations on and off the field. Cost: Free members/$5 general public. Learn more »
Civil War Roundtable: 3rd Minnesota’s Skirmishers at Wood Lake
May 14 @ 1:30 pm - Litchfield: Meeker County Museum - Stephen Osman presents on the audacity, skill, and firepower of the 3rd Minnesota’s skirmishers at Wood Lake; monthly roundtable features historian talks, Q&A, and Civil War discussion. Cost: Free. Learn more »
When Minnesota Veered into Authoritarianism
May 16 @ 2 pm to 3 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Author Greg Gaut discusses his book The War at Home: Minnesota During the Great War, 1914-1920—a finalist in the Minnesota Nonfiction category of the 2026 Minnesota Book Awards—detailing the Minnesota Commission of Public Safety's authoritarian rule under John F. McGee, targeting unions, socialists, IWW, and Nonpartisan League amid WWI-era nationalism and inequality—a case study in democratic erosion. Cost: Pay as you can. Learn more »
Hmong StoryMap Unveiling
May 16 @ 11 am to 2 pm - Vermillion Township: Hmong Museum - Unveiling of digital storymap of important Hmong places, with guided farm tour at Hmong American Farmer's Association Farm, performances, meet participants, light lunch provided, and activities for all ages. Location: Hmong American Farmer’s Association Farm. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Somali Tales & Family Night
May 16 @ 3 pm to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Somali Museum - Join the Somali Museum for a vibrant and engaging storytelling session designed to spark the imaginations of young explorers and families. Cost: Free. Learn more »
May GAI Café
May 17 @ 9:30 am to 12:30 pm - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - Monthly café with German cake and coffee for purchase, plus 11 am presentation and book reading by author Gary Heyn on Standing at the Grave (2023; German ed. Das Grab in der Ferne 2025) tracing German farm families from Grand Duchy of Posen to North Dakota and SE Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »
From Synagogue to Church: A Shared Northside Story
May 31 @ 3 pm to 5 pm - Minneapolis: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest - A program about a 100-year-old North Minneapolis building that began as an Orthodox Jewish synagogue and later became First Church of God in Christ, featuring presentations, exhibits, light refreshments, shared conversations, and choirs from both communities. Location: First Church of God in Christ. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »
Highlighted Museum: Old Country School House museum, operated by the Lake Park Area Historical Society, Lake Park, MN.
Free to Minnesota Residents. Funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society.
In-Person Guidelines for Cleaning Collections Materials: Focus on Decorative Arts and Historic House Collections
July 20 & 21 @ 10 am to 5 pm day 1 & 9 am to 4 pm day 2 - Location: Gammelgården Museum of Scandia, Scandia, MN – This hands-on, two-day workshop (max. 20 participants) covers ethics, hazards, and techniques for cleaning stable cultural artifacts including textiles, picture frames, ceramics, glass, silver, and iron. Features lectures, practical exercises, advanced topics like stabilizing historic iron, cleaning level selection, and volunteer management. Cost: Free for Minnesota residents/$600 general. Learn more »
Preserving Through Podcasting: Making Historic Preservation Accessible Through Digital Preservation
May 19 @ 12–1 pm (CT) - Online: Kentucky Museum and Heritage Association – Join Erica Friis (Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation) to explore podcasting and digital storytelling for demystifying preservation, building public support, and creating educational resources beyond institutional boundaries. Part of the Learn@Lunch virtual series. Cost: Free members free/$10 non-members. Learn more »
Turning Assessment Recommendations Into Actions: How To Make Practical Use Of Assessment Reports
May 29 @ 11 am–12 pm (CT) - Online: Center for Conservation of Art and Historic Artifacts – Overview of assessment processes with real-world examples and guest speakers from organizations; learn to implement recommendations, stay organized, and leverage help from students/consultants. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Website | Register
Registration is NOW OPEN for NAPC's biennial conference FORUM! Happening this summer (July 22-26, 2026) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, FORUM is the only conference dedicated to the issues facing local preservation commissions. Early Bird Rate applies today through May 8, 2026.
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: In recognition of the 2026 MALHM Conference going on this week in Mankato, this week's slides feature a Minnesota history & preservation conference at the Minneapolis Hilton in 1986. View additional photos on Instagram »
This section features slides taken of Minnesota history museums from the 1970s through the 1990s by David Nystuen, the MNHS Field Services Coordinator, and other Field Services representatives during that time period.
Hopkins seeks to sell former spot slated for Hopkins Historical Society
Sun-Sailor - Nearly a year ago, Hopkins Historical Society announced its intention to vacate plans to renovate 907 Mainstreet as a new home for the society. Now, the city of Hopkins is looking for someone to buy it. Continue reading »
What it’s like at Paisley Park a decade after the death of its founder
Star Tribune - A younger generation of employees is working anew to keep Prince’s Chanhassen studio complex a successful museum and major Minnesota tourist site. Continue reading »
Shanty Boys musical comes to Hinckley Fire Museum
North Pine County News - Written and conceived by Hinckley native Jeremiah Gamble, Shanty Boys of Pine County is a new musical celebrating Minnesota lumber camp songs and relishing in tall-but-true tales— particularly that of Michael Cassius Dean, a larger-than-life Irishman who came to Hinckley as an itinerant lumberjack in 1885, and who compiled a book of lumber camp songs called The Flying Cloud. Continue reading »
Northfield History Center launches capital campaign to restore Scriver Building
KYMN - The Northfield History Center has kicked off a major capital campaign to rehabilitate the historic Scriver Building, its longtime home and one of the most significant landmarks in downtown Northfield. Continue reading »
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Featured BookThe War at Home: Minnesota During the Great War, 1914-1920 by Greg Gaut. Minnesota Historical Society Press. Author event |
Featured Article
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Featured Article
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Minnesota UnraveledA podcast series by the Minnesota Historical Society
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Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
Minnesota Main Streets |
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Preservation Specialists Directory |
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