Members of the West Central Minnesota Historical Association met on October 13 at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum in Tracy, MN. 15 people from eight organizations met to share updates on their projects and discuss upcoming officer elections for WCMHA. Organizations at the meeting included the Balaton Area Historical Society, Kanidyohi County Historical Society, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum (Walnut Grove), Lyon County Historical Society, Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums, Minnesota Historical Society, Renville County Historical Society, and Wheels Across the Prairie.
Stay tuned for more information on registration and a webinar in the weeks prior to the event, focused on tips and strategies for talking with elected officials about support for history.
Spotlighted Project: Wabasha Roadside Marker Conservation
LSIC also commissioned a short documentary to share the restoration process with a wider audience. The seven-minute video recorded the hands-on conservation work and interviews with the stonemason and the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer. The restored marker stood as a renewed reminder of Wapahaša’s leadership and the enduring presence of Dakota people within their homeland.
Recipient: Lower Sioux Indian Community
Amount Funded: $9,700
Project Details
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, January 9, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
No January Grants Open House
January 2026 - Due to the New Year's Holiday, there will be no Open House for January. Learn more »
Grants Office Webinar: State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid Program in 2026
December 18 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Learn about opportunities, project requirements, deadlines, and more during this upcoming webinar to see how MNHS can help fund your construction project. No RSVP required. Presented by Design Reviewer John Beaty and Design Reviewer Ryan Maciej.
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 Hennepin History Museum. Have a blog? Let us know!
The Legend of the Angel Gabriel Weathervane
A creature strayed from the heavenly realm, the beautiful Minneapolis Gabriel still carries an aura of celestial mystery." – Dr. Karal Ann Marling, professor emerita of art history and American studies at the University of Minnesota
An effigy of the angel Gabriel, a divine messenger of the Abrahamic religions, this weathervane ironically cannot tell us his true origin nor even which way the wind is blowing. As such, historians and curators have struggled to separate fact from folklore to establish its provenance for many decades. The myth of Gabriel has grown to span two continents, three centuries, and establishes the weathervane as the first example of public art in what is now Minneapolis. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the New Prague Area 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.
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Christmas program in December 1950 at the District 32 rural school.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Nobles County Historical Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
Winter Solstice Weekend at Norway House
December 19 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Celebrate the winter solstice with Norwegian cultural activities, traditions, and festivities. Learn more »
Self-Guided Holiday Experience
Now through December 21, Saturdays @ 10 am to 4 pm, Sundays @ 1 to 4 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Special self-guided holiday tour featuring vintage musical instruments, all-ages scavenger hunt, and "History Mystery of the Missing Sheet Music" where participants solve clues to help Kate Hubbard amid red herrings. Cost: $7 members/$10 general. Learn more »
Latke Party and Double Feature Films
December 22 @ 2 to 4 pm - St. Paul: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest - Enjoy a festive latke party and two documentary films, DELIcious: A Forshpayz and Delis Part 2: Life. Lore. And the Lincoln Del, exploring the rich history of Jewish delis, family shops, countermen, and the foods that shaped community life. Location: Shaller Family Sholom East Campus. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Sweet Land: The Great Minnesota Book Club
December 26 @ 6:30 to 8 pm - Maplewood: Maplewood Area Historical Society - Join The Great Minnesota Book Club for a discussion of Sweet Land, exploring Minnesota history, immigration, and rural life through fiction. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Voices of Winter: The Heritage of Romanian Caroling
Every Sunday in January @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - Explore the tradition of Romanian caroling through cultural presentations and performances. Location: Landmark Center, Room 319. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Are You Thirsty?
January 2 & 3 @ 1:30 to 2:15 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - Family-friendly puppet performance revival by In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, where "Thirsty" explores water's importance, global issues, and our role as water relatives through vibrant storytelling, music, and participation. Performed by Lora Pedersen and Spencer Polk. Cost: Pay as you can. Learn more »
Mayo Clinic Lecture Series: An Adventure in Medicine: The Story of the Mayo Brothers
January 8 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Dr. Mark Warner presents a film screening of "An Adventure in Medicine: The Story of the Mayo Brothers," followed by a discussion on Mayo Clinic's foundational principle: "the needs of the patient come first." Cost: Free members/$5 general. Learn more »
History Day Hullabaloo
January 10, 2026 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Roseville: Roseville Library - Get research help for National History Day with librarians and mentors on hand to assist students in finding sources, narrowing topics, and planning projects. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Save Our Signs: National Parks, People Power, and the Power of Place
January 29 @ 1 to 3 pm - Minneapolis & Online: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub, University of Minnesota Libraries - Join the Save Our Signs (SOS) team—a constellation of librarians, public historians and data experts based out of the University of Minnesota Libraries—for a presentation and discussion event where they will explore how to connect institutional resources to people power in order to protect endangered cultural resources. Location: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub, Pillsbury Hall, University of Minnesota. 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: Pierre Bottineau House, operated by the Three Rivers Park District, Maple Grove, MN.
Photograph by Three Rivers Park District, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.
Submit a poster proposal for the 2026 MALHM Annual Conference, April 28–30 in Mankato! The Poster Session, April 29 at the Mayo Clinic Health Event Center, invites visual displays sharing research, projects, or best practices. Proposals due February 13, 2026. Learn more »
Hognander Minnesota History Award
Deadline – January 9, 2026: Minnesota Book Awards – The biennial Hognander Minnesota History Award honors the most outstanding scholarly work on Minnesota history published in 2024 or 2025. Established through the Hognander Family Foundation, the award recognizes excellence in research, writing, and contributions to the understanding of Minnesota’s past. Eligible works include new historical scholarship, oral histories with context, and biographies of non-living subjects. Learn more »
Core Issues Briefing: Understanding the U.S. History Sector
January 7, 2026 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) - Part of AASLH's Core Issues Briefing Series, this webinar delivers the latest research and insights on the U.S. history sector's key challenges. Gain practical guidance to strengthen your institution and communicate its value to diverse stakeholders.
Cost: $25 members/$50 nonmembers. Learn more »
Accession, Acquisition, & Appraisal
January 19, 2026 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Backlog Archivists - Explore the key archival concepts of accession, acquisition, and appraisal, and how they interconnect to guide collection development, donor interactions, documentation, and long-term stewardship decisions. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Telling Your Story with Commemorative Signage
January 20, 2026 @ 12 pm to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Kentucky Museum & Heritage Alliance - Dr. Jim Seaver from the Kentucky Historical Society guides you through commemorative signage options, including state historical markers, nonprofit/local government partnerships, and custom commercial plaques. Discover pros, cons, processes, funding, logistics, and challenges for each, with ample Q&A time for your ideas. Cost: Free members/$10 nonmembers. Learn more »
Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Governance
January 22, 2026 @ 9 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Learn core principles of nonprofit board governance, including roles and responsibilities, fiduciary duties, and practical strategies for building an effective partnership between board and staff.
Cost: $95. Learn more »
|
September 16 - 19, 2026 |
|
April 28 - 30, 2026 Early Bird Registration discounts run until February 28 |
Additional Educational Opportunities »
SAA Foundation Catalyst Grants
January 31 – Deadline: Society of American Archivists - This grant program supports complex, carefully planned projects such as the processing, cataloging, and digitization of archival collections or the creation of new or further development of existing guidelines and best practices that benefit the archival field. Learn more »
The Virginia Savage McAlester Preservation Fellowship
February 13 – Deadline: Architecture and Design Foundation - Advanced undergraduates, graduate students, or recent grads (up to five years) can apply for a $2,500 fellowship to help in their study of historic preservation practices, topics, and case studies. Learn more »
|
|
|
|
Minnesota History Awards |
AASLH Leadership in History Awards
|
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: Wright County Historical Society Museum, Buffalo, MN. (1981). 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.
Need a specific tool for a preservation project? Northern Bedrock might have your back
Duluth News Tribune - The new tool-lending library with the Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps might have that tool for you soon, but first, it needs to build its collection. Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps is a nonprofit organization that focuses on historic preservation trades training for young adults and serving the community. Continue reading »
Faribault Masonic Lodge votes to merge with Northfield
Fairbault Daily News - ...Similar to when the Masonic Lodge moved to its current location, the group will donate many of its historical documents and artifacts to the Rice County Historical Society for preservation as they move to Northfield... Continue reading »
|
|
|
|
Featured BookJul: Swedish American Holiday Traditions by Patrice Johnson. Minnesota Historical Society Press. |
Featured Article
|
Featured Article
|
Minnesota UnraveledA podcast series by the Minnesota Historical Society
|
Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
Minnesota Main Streets |
2026
|
Preservation Specialists Directory |
Subscribe to Local History News
Use Local History News as part of your online tools to stay connected to your colleagues while working from home. Know someone who could benefit from this newsletter?
Have them sign up »
