State History Services Manager Todd Mahon joined MNHS Director and CEO Kent Whitworth at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead on August 14 to present Dr. Maureen Kelly Jonason (center), the retired director of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, with a certificate commemorating her joining the MNHS Honorary Council. The Minnesota Historical Society’s Honorary Council recognizes individuals who, through their good works, have given extraordinary service related to the mission of MNHS. Honorary Council nominees are developed by the Executive Council and elected by the membership of MNHS to lifelong terms.
State Capital Grant Program
This grant opportunity supports capital preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, building systems, and accessibility projects at publicly owned historic properties. Sites must be National Register-listed or determined eligible for listing by SHPO, and applicants must provide a 1:1 match. The manual will be released in September 2026; pre-applications are due January 22, 2027. Learn more »
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, October 9, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
SEPTEMBER Grants Open House
September 3 - 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 Webinar: First Steps Towards a Grant
August 20 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: In this webinar, you will learn what you need to do to register for a grants portal login, how to apply, what the grant programs offer, what the programs can fund, and which resources are available for applicants. If you have never applied for a grant before or would like to hear about the process again, this webinar is for you. Presented by Gillian Maguire, Grants Specialist.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: (US) +1 386-361-3086 PIN: 420 891 978#
Grants Office YouTube Playlist »
This week's blog post is from the Robbinsdale Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
Rich and Creamy Robbinsdale
Robbinsdale’s dairy history is tied closely to its early development as a working-class suburb on the edge of Minneapolis, where nearby farms, creameries, and milk routes were just part of everyday life.
One of the earliest pieces of that system was a creamery built in the 1920s on Ernest Shumway’s land at 4218 West Broadway. Around the same time, the Twin City Milk Producers Association expanded its regional network, and in 1921 Robbinsdale hosted a major celebration for the opening of a new milk station. Farmers from nearby communities like Corcoran, Hamel, and Osseo were treated to speeches, band music, sports, and entertainment—basically a civic festival built around the serious business of getting milk to Minneapolis. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Lake Crystal Area Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
| Lake Crystal, Minnesota - Then and Now In-Person Comparison A comparison of some historic sites in Lake Crystal, MN done in person using postcards and photographs from the Lake Crystal Area Historical Society's archive. Watch Video » |
Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Google Services Administrator - MN History Center
Interpreter I - MN History Center Museum
Head of Enterprise Risk Management & Security - MN History Center
People & Culture Administrator - MN History Center
Manager of External Communications and Operations - Ramsey County Historical Society, St. Paul, MN
Custodian II - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Seasonal Visitor Services & Shop Associate - Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Lead Store Clerk - Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Medora, ND Job ID: 3033528
Grounds and Maintenance Technician - Fort Buford State Historic Site and the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Williston, ND Job ID: 3033517
Collections Manager - Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque, IA
Experience Associate - Cultural Heritage Center, South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD
Museum Marketing and Communications Specialist - City of Elmhurst, Elmhurst, IL
Head of Digital Collections Initiatives - Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL
Public Engagement Facilitator - Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL
Museum Educator, Community Engagement - University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Archive + Collection Manager - Video Data Bank, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Contract Registrar - Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie, IL
Visitor Engagement Team Leader - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL
Assistant Museum Collections Registrar - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL
Survey National Register Manager - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
Exhibit Designer - Ohio History Center & Ohio Village, Columbus, OH
Maltz Museum - Advancement Operations Manager, Cleveland, OH
Interpreter, Educational Programming - Newark Earthworks and Flint Ridge, Ohio History Connection, Heath, OH
Creative Director - Glass Pavilion, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, OH
Archival Collections Specialist - University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Local History Librarian - Local History Center, Capital Area District Libraries - Okemos, MI
Exhibits Technician - Lakeshore Museum Center, Muskegon, MI
Historic Sites Program Assistant - Lakeshore Museum Center, Muskegon, MI
Assistant Director of Liberty Education - National Liberty Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Visitor Experience Associate - Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO
Payroll & HR Administrator - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB
Project Manager, Facilities - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
Executive Director - Open Studio, Toronto, ON
Collections Assistant - Orillia Museum of Art & History, Orillia, ON
Archivist I – Digital Preservation, County of Simcoe, Midhurst, ON
Maritime Archaeologist Fellow - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
From the collection of P.B. Hole, artistic photographer located in McIntosh, MN. Photo shows several children in front of a cow, with picket fence and house in background.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the East Polk County Historical Society .
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
Knowing Anders Zorn with Ingela Haaland
August 20 @ 6:30 to 8 pm (CT) - Online: American Swedish Institute - Instructor Ingela Haaland explores Swedish artist Anders Zorn’s life and work, his home province of Dalarna, and his efforts to preserve Swedish folk music through the Zorn Badge. Cost: $15 members; $20 general public. Learn more »
Celebration Event of Zagaandagaa-Anishinaabeg at Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center
August 22 @ 2 pm to 4 pm - Grand Marais: Gunflint Trail Historical Society - Celebrate the debut of Zagaandagaa-Anishinaabeg, People of the Thick Coniferous Forest, an exhibit exploring the history, culture, and experiences of Anishinaabe people in the border lakes region. The event features guest speakers, music by Briand Morrison, refreshments, and opportunities to meet the exhibit design team and muralist Sam Zimmerman. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Golden Mile Walking Tour
August 25 @ 10 to 11:30 am - Minneapolis: American Swedish Institute - Explore the historic Golden Mile neighborhood surrounding ASI on a guided, approximately one-mile walk featuring stories of mansions built alongside the Turnblad Mansion and the area’s evolution over time. Museum admission is included; advance registration is required. Cost: $15 members; $20 general public; $10 students. Learn more »
Fun with Flags
August 27 @ 12 pm to 1 pm - Austin: Mower County Historical Society - MCHS Executive Director Randal J. Forster explores flags and banners in the Historical Society’s collection and their connections to Mower County as part of the Lunchbox History series and the county’s Semiquincentennial celebration. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Gather ’round: Scary Tales from the North Woods with Carol Ann Reed
August 27 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Carol Ann Reed, host of The InBetween, shares stories of unexplained creatures, disappearances, and folklore from Minnesota and Wisconsin’s North Woods. The evening includes a Q&A; Nordic food and drinks are available for purchase. Cost: $10 members; $15 general public. Learn more »
History & Spirits Tour
August 28 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Join Leah Buysse for an outdoor walking tour beginning at the Red Wing Depot, blending local history with legends about the people who shaped Red Wing. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Cost: $25. Learn more »
Open Dance: Buraanbur
August 28 @ 5 pm to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Somali Museum - A welcoming space for beginners and experienced dancers to learn, move, and connect through Somali dance traditions while celebrating culture, community, and rhythm. Learn more »
Minnesota’s Wildlife Management Program 75th Anniversary Hybrid Program
August 29 @ 11 am to 12 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - DNR Area Wildlife Manager Jeffrey Zajac explores the 75-year history of Minnesota’s Wildlife Management Program, its work in Blue Earth County, the History Center’s Prairie Garden, and wildlife that relies on similar gardens. Attend at the History Center or online via Zoom; a recording is available to registered online attendees for up to one week. Cost: $5 members; $10 general public; online registration is $10 per household. Learn more »
Bemidji Pride
August 29 @ 12 pm to 5 pm - Bemidji: Beltrami County Historical Society - Join BCHS at Bemidji Pride’s sixth annual Family Festival, with product and community-resource vendors, food, children’s activities, live music, and more. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Vintage Games
August 29 @ 10 am to 2:30 pm - Crosslake: Crosslake Log Village - Try classic Village Days games including jacks, marbles, tiddly winks, yo-yos, and rolling-hoop races; children can also make their own kazoos at the School House. Learn more »
20th Century – Excelsior and the South Shore
August 31 @ 7 pm to 9 pm - Minneapolis: Linden Hills History Study Group - Joanie Holst of the Lake Minnetonka Historical Society shares how streetcars, steamboats, tourism, and Excelsior Amusement Park shaped Excelsior’s emergence as the south shore’s downtown. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »
Highlighted Museum: Gregorius and Mary Hanka Historic Farmstead barn operated by Sisu Heritage Inc. in Embarrass Township, St. Louis County, Minnesota.
September 14 @ 10 am to 3 pm - Glensheen, Duluth: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums - Join the MALHM Mutual Assistance Team for an emergency response workshop at Glensheen! Learn about wet salvage techniques, mold, and more. Space will be limited - reserve your spot today. Cost: Free members; $45 non-members. Learn more »
Museum Learning Hub Free Recorded Webinars: Managing Website Projects
These sessions help small museums handle website updates, redesigns, and digital platforms using step-by-step guidance, even with a small staff or volunteer team.
Intro Session: Get Inspired! - Hear from museum professionals who manage flexible, affordable website projects with volunteers, staff, and community partners during periods of change.
Technical Workshop 1: Plan for Success - Learn step-by-step methods, guides, and checklists for setting goals, planning project phases, and building a website team, even with limited staff.
Technical Workshop 2: Setting Content Priorities - Learn how to organize website content, identify gaps, use tracking tools, and develop affordable ways to share stories online.
Technical Workshop 3: Managing the Project - Participants learn how to manage technical resources, avoid common website project problems, plan a successful launch, and maintain a website after it goes live.
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Grants for Curators Hosting Contemporary Art Exhibitions
Deadline - September 9, 2026: Teiger Foundation - Supports U.S.-based curators and artistic directors presenting existing contemporary visual art exhibitions or projects that originated elsewhere and are actively adapted for a new institution and community. Funds may support touring fees, exhibition mounting, artist fees, public programs, and other costs associated with adapting exhibitions to their new contexts. Grant Amount: Up to $75,000. Learn more »
Deadline - September 11, 2026: Minnesota Humanities Center - Supports individual Minnesota musicians in creating, producing, and performing music throughout the state. Learn more »
Youth Literary Grant
Deadline - September 11, 2026: Minnesota Humanities Center - Supports individual authors and organizations creating, producing, and distributing books for youth in Minnesota. Learn more »
Underrepresented Cultural Studies Materials Grants
Deadline - October 2, 2026: Minnesota Humanities Center - Supports individual authors and organizations developing high-quality academic, cultural, and ethnic studies materials for communities that lack adequate representation in existing educational and cultural resources. Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: Le Sueur City Museum, Le Sueur, MN. (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.
A Revere Camera Company Model P-90 8mm silent movie projector is available for donation to a nonprofit organization. The projector was made in Chicago, Illinois during the late 1940s or early 1950s. The metal-reinforced hard travel case measures roughly 18 inches high, 10 inches wide, and 7.5 inches deep. Runs on standard AC household current via a detachable power cord.
If your organization is interested in claiming one or both items, please email ngangeness@gmail.com.
One page closes, another opens: Museum takes ownership of Boyhood Home
Sauk Center Herald - As Patty Lewis carefully flipped through a scrapbook filled with decades of Lewis family history July 29 at the Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home in Sauk Centre, she pointed to photographs, newspaper clippings and handwritten memories collected by her husband’s late relative, Robert “Uncle Bob” Lewis. For years, she has served as one of the family’s unofficial historians, preserving stories and artifacts connected to Nobel Prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis and his family. Now, many of those treasures will find a permanent home at the Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home in Sauk Centre. Continue reading »
Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum set for grand opening weekend
Brainerd Dispatch - The museum will officially open its new 40,000-square-foot facility Sept.11-13 during a three-day celebration featuring the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, historic warbird flyovers, veteran-led experiences, family activities, historical reenactors, live music, military vehicles and programs honoring veterans from every generation of service. Continue reading »
Tilt-A-Whirl! The Minnesota invention and State Fair staple turns 100
MPR - ...In Faribault, where the Rice County Historical Society is also celebrating its centennial, Jenna Nelson says the museum is preparing to overhaul its Tilt-A-Whirl and Sellner Manufacturing Company exhibit, which will reopen in 2027... Continue reading »
Notes from my exploration of the underground archives
Northfield News - In April of 2024, I walked into the Scriver building sporting a new portfolio and a pair of dated glasses – which can easily be corroborated by various contacts from that unfortunate fashion period. Regardless, it was my first time at the local museum in several years, having grown unfamiliar with the Northfield History Center (NHC) since COVID hit. Continue reading »
Sprucing up the schoolhouse
Marshall Independent - A historic one-room schoolhouse at the Lyon County Fairgrounds has a new look now, thanks to an Eagle Scout project by Dante Thomas. Thomas was at the fairgrounds this weekend, and spoke about the process that led up to a new concrete sidewalk and interpretive sign being installed outside the schoolhouse. Continue reading »
Beltrami family's $7,500 gift to county historical society memorialized with banner
Bemidji Pioneer - A $7,500 pledge to the Beltrami County Historical Society became official on Saturday as descendants of Giacomo Constantino Beltrami visited the area for a special presentation. Continue reading »
Northwest Airlines turns 100: Twin Cities Museum preserves the iconic carrier's legacy
FOX 9 News - A century after Northwest Airlines took to the skies, a group of dedicated Minnesotans is working to keep its story alive for generations to come. Watch video »
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Featured BookPerseverance: A Memoir by Mark Dayton Minnesota Historical Society Press. Book Launch Event |
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