Field Note

Christ Church Lutheran, a National Historic Landmark since 2009 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, hosted MNHS staff, partners, and consultants for a project site visit supporting Historic Structure Report updates. The team reviewed the building at the 75% HSR phase, focusing on masonry repairs, failing windows, and roof work to support small HVAC units within tight site constraints. A brief tour highlighted the sanctuary’s brick walls, limestone floors, and white pine and oak finishes, along with ancillary spaces and the gymnasium.

Sign up for History Matters Day at the Capitol

Join us for History Matters Day at the Capitol on Thursday, March 5, 2026. This legislative session is vital for obtaining funding for history projects. Take the opportunity to meet with your legislators and share why history matters to you. History Matters Day at the Capitol provides a platform to highlight the efforts of the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) and other history organizations. It encourages advocates to discuss with their legislators the importance of state funding to preserve our historical legacy. Sign up now »

Heritage Preservation Grants

MNHS Announces Summer Round of Legacy Large Grants
Recipients received 38 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Large Grants ($20,001 and more) totaling $4,668,796 in 21 counties. Learn more »

MNHS Announces October Round of Legacy Small Grants
Recipients received 49 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Small Grants ($20,000 and less) totaling $610,846 in 23 counties. 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, April 10, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions.

MARCH Grants Open House
March 5 - 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 »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the Blue Earth County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!

Rural Schools in Blue Earth County
A law passed in 1873 allowed school districts to name their schools rather than use only the number. Many of the schools in the county were simply named for the owner of the land on which they stood, like the Caven School (#118 in section 31 of Lyra Township), built in 1868, which consolidated with Vernon Center in 1958. The Nobles School (#14 in Cresco Township section 23), formed in 1856, students moved to either Vernon Center, Garden City, or Madelia in 1965. The building was eventually moved to the Blue Earth County Fairgrounds. Or the infamous Yaeger School (#91, Section 11 of Rapidan Township), which unknowingly hosted a thief living under the building. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Favorite Tools - Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps
• Unearthing History: HJ Lasher and Pipe Lake Fort - Meeker County Historical Society
• P.P. Johnson’s logging camp - Cass County Historical Society 
• John Till - Plaster Doctor - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from the Wright County Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Jesse Jackson in Osakis, 1988 - Douglas County Historical Society
• Barely a Trace Left, The Claybank Clay Fields - Minnesota Bricks
• Here Comes the High School - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• All Roads Lead to Betsy: Book Review 4 - Betsy-Tacy Society
• Conversation with Bill Linton - Fridley Historical Society
• The Fallen Washington County Service Members of Vietnam and How We Remember Them - Washington County Historical Society
• 125th Anniversary - Blue Earth County History from 1901-1929 - Blue Earth County Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.

MNHS

• Program Supervisor, K12 & Children's Programming - Oliver H. Kelley Farm

• Interpreter I - Split Rock Lighthouse

LOCAL

• Historic Site Interpreters - Gibbs Farm, Ramsey County Historical Society, Falcon Heights, MN

• Accountant - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN

• Group Sales Assistant - Bell Museum, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Metro

• Historic Site Interpreter - Gibbs Farm, Ramsey County Historical Society, Falcon Heights, MN

• Historian - KLJ, Eagan, MN

REGIONAL

• Custodian - Black Point Estate, Wisconsin Historical Society, Lake Geneva, WI

• Interpreter - Black Point Estate, Wisconsin Historical Society, Lake Geneva, WI

• Custodian - Pendarvis Historical Site, Wisconsin Historical Society, Mineral Point, WI

• Tour Guide - Pendarvis Historical Site, Wisconsin Historical Society, Mineral Point, WI

• Tour Guide - First Capitol Historic Site, Wisconsin Historical Society, Mineral Point, WI

• Historic Brewer - Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Society, Eagle, WI

• Historic Bartender - Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Society, Eagle, WI

• Visitor Experience Associate - Fort Buford State Historic Site, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Williston, ND; Job ID: 3032447

• Executive Director - Shelby County Historical Museum, Harlan, IA

• Museum Store Manager & Buyer - North American Bison Discovery Center, Jamestown, ND

• Visitor Services Attendant - Dickinson Museum Center, City of Dickinson, Dickinson, ND

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• History Education Specialist - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL

• Agriculture Education Specialist - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL

• Historical Site Interpreter - Lanier Mansion, Indiana State Museum, Madison, IN

• Maintenance Technician - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

• Security Specialist Shift Lead - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN

• Accounting Assistant - Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, IN

• Visitor Services Associate - Adena Mansion & Gardens, Ohio History Connection, Chillicothe, OH

• Director of Grants & Strategic Partnerships - Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI

• Manager of Individual Engagement - Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit, MI

• Assistant Director for Production and Design - Historical Society of Michigan, Lansing, MI

• NAGPRA Compliance Officer (Professional Consultant) - Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI

• Vice President for Museums - Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA

• Historical Society Associate Director - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

• Director of Institutional Advancement - Museum of Art + Light, Manhattan, KS

• Building Security & Maintenance Specialist - Museum of Art + Light, Manhattan, KS

• HBC Royal Charter Consortium Project Manager - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB

• Indigenous Cultural Liaison - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB

• Marketing & Communications Coordinator - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB

• Community Storytelling Project Coordinator - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB

• Education & Public Programs Coordinator - Le Musée de Saint-Boniface Museum, Winnipeg, MB

• Executive Director - Canadian Museums Association, Ottawa, ON

• Advertising & Events Coordinator - Devil's Coulee Dinosaur Museum, Warner, AB

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Hybrid Education Internship - Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN

• Summer Programs Intern - Lanesboro Arts, Lanesboro, MN

• Photo Archives Intern - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND; Job: ID3032450

• Reference Intern - State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, ND; Job: ID3032451

• Special Collections Internship - State Archives of Iowa, Des Moines, IA

• State Archives Internship - State Archives of Iowa, Des Moines, IA

• Museum Education Assistant Internship - State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines, IA

• Collections Summer Intern - Massillon Museum, Massillon, OH

• Newberry Research Internship - Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, MI

• Wayne County History Project Exhibitions Internship - Detroit Historical Society, Detroit, MI

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

Postcard of the Naegeli family band.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Dodge County Historical Society.

FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?

Finding Homes Within Our World and Within Ourselves: A Kao Kalia Yang Duo Book Launch
February 28 @ 10:30 to 11:30 am – Minneapolis: American Swedish Institute – Celebrate the launch of two new picture books by acclaimed author Kao Kalia Yang in a family-friendly event featuring a reading, Q&A, and book signing. Cost: Pay what you can. Learn more »

Resources for Pennsylvania Genealogy
February 28 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT) – Mendota Heights: Minnesota Genealogical Society – Attendees learn about key records, repositories, and research strategies for tracing Pennsylvania ancestors in a hybrid session offered on Zoom with a live audience at the Minnesota Genealogy Center. Cost: Free. Learn more »

History Unboxed: The Pandolfo Experience
March 5 @ 6 to 7 pm – St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum – Attendees explore the world of Samuel Pandolfo, St. Cloud's ambitious auto entrepreneur who founded Pan Motor Company, built Pantown, and produced innovative cars before fraud conviction. Hands-on program uses original materials from museum archives to learn how historians uncover stories from the past. Cost: Free. Learn more »

BECHS Annual Member Meeting
March 7 @ 1 to 3 pm – Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society – Attendees participate in the society's annual meeting featuring updates on programs, financial reports, board elections, and future initiatives for members and guests. Cost: Free members/$10 non-members. Learn more »

Print Social with Bruno Press
March 7 @ 1 to 3 pm – St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum and Central MN Arts Board – Attendees join Mary Bruno and Bruno Press for an interactive letterpress event exploring printmaking history. Hands-on activities use wood type, showcard presses, and analog techniques to create personal art with prompts like "Community is...," customized with stamps, markers, and Polaroid photos for a collaborative installation celebrating creativity and connection. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Quilt Exhibit & Lectures
March 10 @ 1 & 7 pm, Exhibit runs through March 27 – South St. Paul: Dakota County Historical Society – Attendees view a special quilt exhibit featuring "Threads of Time—A Quilting Journey" presented by Sharyn Resvick at both 1 pm and 7 pm lectures at the exhibit opening. Learn more »

"Her Place in the Woods" Book Talk
March 12 @ 6 to 8 pm – Minneapolis: Norway House – David Hakensen discusses his biography of Helen Hoover, Chicago scientist turned Minnesota nature writer who chronicled wilderness life on Gunflint Lake in bestselling books like A Place in the Woods. Explore her transition from metallurgy career to observing wildlife amid rugged North Woods challenges. Cost: $10.30 members/$12.36 general. Learn more »

Persistence and Resistance: Women's Mental Health
March 14 @ 2 to 4 pm – Anoka: Anoka County Historical Society – Attendees explore The Woman They Could Not Silence and The Crusade for Forgotten Souls to gain insights into life within state asylums and society's attempts to silence women. Part of the "Persistence and Resistance" conversation series using published works and local research to discuss women's historical challenges and power. For extra credit, check out the oral history collection at ACHS! What occurs when society seeks to silence women? Cost: $8. Learn more »

March Genealogy Saturday
March 14 @ 10 am to 12 pm – Grand Rapids: Grant County Historical Society – Attendees explore FamilySearch.org, the world's largest free genealogy database with billions of historical records, family trees, and research tools including census data, vital records, and collaborative tree building. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Low German, High German, and the Shift Towards English: Kansas Mennonites
March 15 @ 9:30 am to 12:30 pm – St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute – Attendees explore language evolution among Kansas Mennonites—from Plautdietsch (Low German) and High German to English dominance—revealing cultural adaptation through migration, education shifts, and community changes. Presentation at 11 am. Cost: $8. Learn more »

Bees & Their Affect on Local Agriculture
March 18 @ 6:30 to 8 pm – Two Harbors: Lake County Historical Society – Attendees explore the vital role of bees in local agriculture, examining their impact on pollination, crop production, and ecosystem health in this engaging presentation. Location: Tipsy Mosquito Cost: Free. Learn more »

Polish Literature in English Reading Group – March 2026
March 18 @ 7 pm – Minneapolis: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota – Attendees discuss English translations of Polish literature in a monthly reading group, exploring themes, authors, and cultural insights through shared conversation. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The Goodhue County Spectacle: The Muus vs. Muus Case
March 18 @ 12 to 1 pm – Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society – Attendees explore the landmark Muus vs. Muus divorce case of 1878, a sensational Norwegian immigrant scandal involving adultery accusations that captivated local and international headlines. Discover how this trial challenged traditional gender roles and property rights for women in 19th-century Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The Story of the Stoppels: A Story of Immigration Exhibit Opening & Lecture
March 19 @ 6:30 to 8:30 pm – Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County – Attendees experience the opening of an exhibit tracing the Stoppel family's journey from hardship in 19th-century Germany, surviving Minnesota's first brutal winter in a hand-dug cave, to building a thriving farmstead with its iconic barn and house. Modern connections feature Pete Schuller's discussion of his post-WWII European refugee camp life and resettlement challenges, bridging immigrant resilience across eras. Cost: Free members/$5 non-members. Learn more »

WCHS 2026 Annual Meeting and Dinner "They Don't Make 'Em Like That Anymore": America's Love Affair with the Automobile
March 19 @ 5:30 to 8:30 pm – Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society – Historian and WCHS Treasurer George Schire explores America's enduring passion for automobiles—from horseless carriages to modern EVs—through historical facts, hilarious anecdotes, and the cars shaping our lives. Social hour at 5:30, Scheel’s catered dinner at 6:30, annual meeting at 7:30. Location: Stillwater Event Center. Cost: $25 members/$30 nonmembers. Learn more »

2026 Spring Archeology Colloquium
March 23 @ 4 to 6 pm – Minneapolis: Immigration History Research Center and Department of Anthropology, University of Minnesota – Attendees engage with leading archaeologists presenting recent research findings, methodologies, and discoveries in a colloquium format fostering discussion on diverse topics. Location: 25 Humphrey Center, U of MN Cost: Free. Learn more »

History Buff Book Chat: All the Light We Cannot See
March 25 @ 12 to 1 pm – Winona: Winona County Historical Society – Attendees discuss Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning WWII novel intertwining a blind French girl's resilience in occupied Saint-Malo and a gifted German boy's moral conflict as a radio tracker. Explore themes of light, human connection amid war's darkness, and historical accuracy through character-driven storytelling. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »

Continuing Education

Highlighted Museum: Eli Wirtanen Pioneer Farm, Markham, MN.

 FREE Upcoming Midwest Art Conservation Center Workshops 
Free to Minnesota Residents. Funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Learn more »

Online Writing Grants for Preservation and Conservation Projects
March 5 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Midwest Art Conservation Center - Master grant writing for practical conservation projects, including supplies for re-housing collections, minor storage upgrades, monitoring equipment, general preservation needs assessment surveys, and staff training programs. You'll learn to conduct thorough internal reviews, develop compelling proposals, apply sound budgeting principles, secure matching funds, and complete effective final grant reports. The session also covers prioritized collections care protocols, long-range conservation planning strategies, and detailed information on specific grant applications from public, private, and regional foundation funding sources—essential skills for cultural heritage professionals seeking sustainable preservation funding. Cost: $150 ($0 for Minnesota residents). Thanks to funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Learn more »

Write Your Long-Range Preservation Plan
March 11, 18, & 25, 2026 @ 10 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: This 3-session online course guides participants in drafting a Long-Range Preservation Plan (LRPP), focusing on preservation fundamentals, assessment, and prioritization of collections care goals. The course is designed especially for small institutions and includes group activities plus recommended independent work. Learn to use your LRPP for conservation goals and competitive grant proposals. Cost: Free for Minnesota residents/$400 for non-residents.

Crucial Insights and Viable Alternatives for a More Sensitive White House Ballroom
February 25 @ 3:30 to 4:30 pm (CT) - Online: National Trust for Historic Preservation - Join National Trust trustees David Scott Parker and Bill Bates (AIA fellows) for design modifications protecting the White House's classical balance, ahead of the March 5 NCPC vote on the controversial ballroom expansion. Attorney Tom Mayes facilitates discussion and Q&A to inform public comments showing viable preservation alternatives exist. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Physical Care of Collections
March 3 @ 2 to 3:30 pm (CT): Indian Arts Research Center and Gilcrease Museum - This Indigenous Collections Care Speaker Series roundtable explores shifting conservation, handling, housing, and risk management priorities to center Indigenous community needs and perspectives in physical collections care. Panelists include Dyan Youpee (Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes), Rebecca Rupe (Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians), and Amy Covell-Murthy (Carnegie Museum of Natural History). Cost: Free. Learn more »

Inclusive by Design: Disability, Neurodiversity, and Digital Access
March 5 @ 1 to 3 pm (CT): Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Explore disability and neurodiversity through their history, workplace implications, and practical applications in digital accessibility and universal design. This virtual workshop equips communications, development, and program staff with strategies to create inclusive digital content that benefits all users, addressing common barriers and misconceptions. Cost: $50 members/$70 nonmembers. Learn more »

Managing Cash Flow
March 18 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Anticipate and prepare for cash flow fluctuations in your nonprofit with strategies to avoid challenges and ensure financial stability beyond standard reports like budgets and balance sheets. Ideal for leaders needing practical tools to manage unexpected expenses, opportunities, and payroll timing. Cost: Free. Learn more »

C2C Care Course: Environmental Monitoring Series
Connecting to Collections - Register for one or all three-parts. Whether you’re just beginning to think about environmental monitoring or have data loggers gathering dust, this accessible webinar series will help you understand why monitoring matters, how to get started, and what to do with the data you collect. Designed for small museums, historic sites, archives, and anyone caring for collections-no science background required.

Part 1: March 25 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: What is Your Building Telling You? Learn why environmental monitoring matters for collections care, presented by Megan Brakob Narvey of the Minnesota Historical Society. Register for one, two, or all three standalone webinars designed for small museums, historic sites, and archives - no science background required. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Part 2: April 22 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - From Observation to Action with Maddie Cooper of M.C. Conservation Services.

Part 3: May 13 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Making Sense of the Squiggly Lines with Margalit Schindler of Pearl Preservation LLC.

TIPS & TOOLS

• Museum Exhibition Evaluation Questions You Should Always Ask - Museum 411
• Public Writing as Interpretation: Advice from the Editor of Public Humanities - Engaging Places
• AI preparedness guidelines for archivists - Archives and Records Association (UK & Ireland)

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Promoting Photography Education and Exhibition in the U.S.
Deadline - March 15, 2026: The Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation - Funds projects that support the education, preservation, and dissemination of documentary photography created by U.S. photographers. Learn more » 

Odd S. Lovoll Award in Norwegian-American Studies
Deadline - June 1, 2026: Norwegian-American Historical Association - This award recognizes originality, excellence, and creativity in undergraduate research and writing on any aspect of Norwegian-American Studies. The winner of the award, open to undergraduate students, will receive a cash prize of $500 and a one-year student membership in NAHA. Learn more »

Shavlik Family Foundation
Deadline - June 1, 2026: This foundation funds technology requests for Minnesota-serving nonprofit organizations with grants ranging from $1,000 - $30,000. The Foundation is primarily focused on information and technology resources that remove barriers or build capacity for nonprofits and their clients. Learn more »

Grants for Southwest Minnesota
Ongoing submissions: Southwest Initiative Foundation -  Supports nonprofits, schools, government agencies, and fiscal partners in southwest Minnesota with community projects benefiting 18 counties and two Native nations; grants range from $1,000 to $20,000, covering up to 50% of costs. Funding criteria prioritize innovative, non-duplicative projects with local involvement, diverse populations, partnerships, measurable outcomes, and sustainability plans. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Heritage House, Telephone Museum,  Mountain Lake, MN (1984). 
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.

Historical Society's archives get richer with recent donation
Mankato Free Press - Most people doing genealogy research these days use online resources such as Ancestry.com. But historical societies often have a wealth of information to offer too, and the Blue Earth County Historical Society’s archives recently got a little richer with donations from Minnesota State University. Continue reading »

Beltrami County History Center unveils new library and archive 
MPR News - The Beltrami County History Center is unveiling its new library and archive wing Saturday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Bemidji. The project, which took a year to come to fruition, began after the museum ran out of room for its current collection. Continue reading »

Volunteers have been busy at East Otter Tail County Museum
Perham Focus - Volunteers at the History Museum of East Otter Tail County have high hopes for the future, but it’s going to take some good old-fashioned elbow grease to get there. Established in 1998, the History Museum is located in a gorgeous historic stone building at 230 First Ave. N. in Perham. Continue reading »

'Holy grail': Family donates 1863 Colt revolver from historic crime in Moorhead's younger days
Forum of Fargo-Moorhead - The Kiefer family is donating the antique revolver to the Clay County Historical and Cultural Society, used in an 1872 gunfight that shaped early Moorhead. The .31-caliber Colt pocket revolver was used in a historic crime in Moorhead in April 1872. The Kiefer family had possession of the rare revolver since 1878 and on Monday, Feb. 23, they donated it to the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. Continue reading »

The man, the myth, the legend: Jebb Willis and The Time Machine
Wadena Pioneer Journal - Through scrapbooks and his ‘Time Machine’ column in the Pioneer Journal, the Wadena County Historical Society executive director keeps community stories alive. Continue reading  »

Featured Book Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless by Tamara Dean. University of Minnesota Press. Author Event Date: February 23 @ 10 am Location: La Crosse Public Library, La Crosse, WI	Featured Article Minnesota History The CCC Indian Division: aid for depressed Americans, 1933-1942  Volume 43, Issue 1, 1972	Featured Article MNopedia Citizens Alliance, Minneapolis Featured MNopedia Article	Minnesota Unraveled Honoring Rondo: Sports, Resilience, and the Oxford Community Center  Episode 206

Minnesota History Organizations Directory  • County, Chapters, and Local • Statewide/Topical Historical • Regional History Coalitions • Professional Organizations	Minnesota Main Streets Reinvigorate your community's commercial district.	2026 Exhibits To Go! MNHS Traveling Exhibits Now accepting applications.	Preservation Specialists Directory Look up products or services.

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