Field Note

The Valley Grove Preservation Society, a volunteer organization that maintains two historic 19th-century churches and 50 acres of restored prairie located near Nerstrand, MN, contacted MNHS's Local History Services for advice on repairing the stucco covering one of the church buildings. MNHS staff member John Beaty led a stucco repair workshop for the volunteers, demonstrating how to properly repair stucco with traditional mortars. Volunteers left the workshop equipped with the knowledge needed to carry out future repairs.

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: Lake County Historical Society Photograph Inventory
The Lake County Historical Society is improving access to its photograph collections through a full inventory project at the Duluth and Iron Range Depot in Two Harbors. The collection includes more than 10,000 images, with about 7,500 that had not been processed. Staff documented, scanned, and entered each photograph into the database. This work allows staff to locate images in response to requests and provides a clear record of the collection.

A contract collections assistant completed the inventory of nearly 9,000 photographs and supported the organization and rehousing of materials. The updated records have increased use of the collection by researchers, authors, and community members. Staff now respond to requests with greater speed and accuracy and include images in local publications. The project also helps the Society identify gaps in the collection and plan for future collecting.
Recipient: Lake County Historical Society
Amount Funded: $42,782
Project Details

Grants Office Webinar: How to Use Grants Office Feedback
June 18 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online:  You submitted your organization’s pre-application to the large Legacy round. The reviewer feedback you will receive will help you rewrite an application with a better chance of funding. Why do we send the comments that we send? How can you use these comments to rewrite? We will look at edits to example applications using pre-app comment letters and discuss common application improvements. Presented by Grants Manager Carolyn Veeser-Egbide & Grants Specialist John Fulton.

Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: ‪(US) +1 386-361-3086‬  PIN: ‪420 891 978‬#

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. 

Grants Office YouTube Playlist »

From the Blog

This week's blog post is from the Minnesota Digital Library. Have a blog? Let us know!

New MDL traveling exhibit explores the history of childhood in Minnesota
The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) has developed another banner exhibit based on the history of childhood in Minnesota. Featuring images from MDL collections, the exhibit “Childhood in Minnesota” explores the idea of childhood as a universal experience that has been shaped by unique places, cultures, and time periods. The exhibit’s themes focus on children and families, children at work and school, and children at play. Organizations throughout the state may request to borrow and display the banners at their sites for free.

For more information or to request an exhibit loan, visit the traveling exhibit project page on MDL’s website. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• How Hugo harnessed its future - Washington County Historical Society
• What is Swedish candy and why is it so popular? - American Swedish Institute
• Litchfield Centennial - 1969 - Meeker County Museum at the G.A.R. Hall
• Part seven of the Eveleth newspapers series, Jim Froemming’s memories of being a DNT paper boy - Jim Froemming/Hometown Focus
• Chaska River City Days: 50th Working Anniversary - Chaska Historical Society

From the Tube

This week's post is from Paisley Park. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!

More MN Tube posts

• Ticknor Hill - Anoka County Historical Society
• Glenwood Hills - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• My Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Career Treasured Moments, Anthony Scott - African American Registry
• Forever Looking Forward: The Remarkable Life of Dr. Henry Plummer - History Center of Olmsted County
• Historical Conversation: Leon Madsen - Fridley Historical Society
• Kleis Motel - Stearns History Museum
• Book Talk – American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism - East Side Freedom Library
• Thank you AFMN! - Wright County Historical Society

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Historic Program Facilitator I/Interpreter I - Oliver Kelley Farm

LOCAL

• Executive Director - Rock County Historical Society, Luverne, MN

• Senior Curator - Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN

• Executive Director - Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts, Minneapolis, MN

• STEM Educator (Year-round) - The Works, Minneapolis, MN

REGIONAL

• Events Manager - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI

• Exhibitions Coordinator - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI

• Custodian - Historic Wade House, Wisconsin Historical Society, Greenbush, WI

• GIS Technician, Historic Preservation Specialist - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI

• Project Director/Archaeologist - Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI

• Director of Development - German American Heritage Center and Museum, Davenport, Iowa

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Assistant Conservator Paper - The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Visitor Services Representative - Illinois Holocaust Museum, Skokie, IL

• Weekend Guest Services Attendant - Batavia Depot Museum, Batavia Park District - Batavia, IL

• Guest Services Associate - Cantigny, Wheaton, IL

• Education Manager - Cantigny, Wheaton, IL

• Early Childhood Senior Program Manager - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

• Customer Service Agent, Ticket Counter - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

• Archaeology Specialist - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

• Exhibitions Coordinator - Fort Wayne History Center, Fort Wayne, IN

• Senior Genealogy Librarian - Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, IN

• Director, Historic Sites and Museums - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

• Custodial Technician - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

• Visiting Cataloging Specialist - Miami University, Oxford, OH

• Education Curator - Tri-Cities Historical Museum, Grand Haven, MI

• Director of Curatorial Affairs - National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Kansas City, MO

• Rental Event Assistant and Sales Support - Missouri History Museum, St. Louis, MO

• Senior Director - Museums of Art, Archaeology, and Anthropology College of Arts & Science, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO

• Maintenance Technician - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

• Review & Compliance Coordinator: Standing Structures - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE

• DHPSNY Preservation Specialist - Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, Philadelphia, PA

• State Archivist - Montana Historical Society, Helena, MT

• Curatorial Assistant - Collection Optimization (Contract) - City of Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, ON

• Executive Director - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener, ON

• Associate Curator, Contemporary Art - Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, ON

• Executive Director - Hangar Flight Museum, Calgary, AB

• Senior Conservator - Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Yellowknife, NWT

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

4-H Club boys and girls in front of the Eveleth Fire Hall, 1931.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Kathryn A. Martin Library Archives and Special Collections, U of MN Duluth.

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

Big Red Barn Farmers Market
Sundays, June through September @ 9 am to 1 pm - Maplewood: Maplewood Area Historical Society - Visit the farmers market nestled at Bruentrup Heritage Farm, a historic farmstead featuring a classic red barn and preserved agricultural buildings. Enjoy fresh local produce, artisan goods, and community vibes in a setting that showcases Maplewood's farming roots. Learn more »

Cox House Summer Tours Highlight Local Suffrage Leader Lillien Cox Gault
June 6, 20, July 18, August 1, 15, & 29 @ 1 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Explore the beautifully restored Victorian E. St. Julien Cox House at your own pace while viewing Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence, a Smithsonian poster exhibition on the women's suffrage movement. Learn about local suffrage leader Lillien Cox Gault, daughter of St. Peter's first mayor, who organized registration drives, established the League of Women Voters, and became one of only three women serving as mayor in Minnesota in 1922. Tours include a brief introduction and printed guide; free-will donations accepted to support preservation. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Norway House Bok (book) Club - The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules
June 11 @ 1 to 2 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Led by Debbie Doubek, the group will discuss The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg, a witty story about rebellious seniors who turn to crime to escape their boring retirement home and reclaim excitement and independence. The book club meets the second Thursday of every month with a Norwegian theme. Learn more »

Thomas B. Walker’s Vision of St. Louis Park
June 12 @ 2:30 pm - St. Louis Park: St. Louis Park Historical Society & Sholom - As part of the Fridays at Knollwood series, this presentation explores the early history of St. Louis Park and Thomas B. Walker’s 1890s vision to transform it into an industrial suburb of Minneapolis. Location: Knollwood Place Apartments. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Downtown Walking Tours & Faribault House Open House
June 13 @ 12 to 3 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Explore 1880s Faribault history with downtown walking tours starting at Central Park at 12 pm and 1:30 pm, then visit the historic 1853 Alexander Faribault House (open 1–3 pm) to see historic pictures, businesses, and stories of everyday people. Walking tours are $5/person (cash only); the Faribault House is free. Cost: $5 walking tours/Free house. Learn more »

We the People: Then and Now
June 13 @ 9:30 to 11:30 am - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Join the League of Women Voters of St. Peter and the Nicollet County Historical Society for an engaging, interactive look at the nation's founding documents in celebration of America's 250th anniversary. Facilitated by Dr. Kate Knutson (Gustavus Adolphus College Political Science Professor), the program explores the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights through presentations, small group discussions, and interactive activities, examining what these documents resolve, what they leave open, and how they continue to shape American democracy. Location: St. Peter Community Center, Room 219. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Winona Walking Tours: Homes of Windom Park
June 13 & 14 @ 10:30 to 11:30 am - Winona: Winona Historical Society - Join a local guide on a walking tour to learn about the homes of Windom Park Historic District and the people who built the surrounding mansions, along with other nearby historic sites. Cost: $6–$10. Learn more »

Deutsche Tage
June 13 & 14 - St. Paul: Germanic-American Institute - Celebrate one of St. Paul’s longest-running ethnic festivals featuring programs on German-American contributions to American culture, traditions, foodways, music, and community life, plus authentic German and European food, Paulaner beer, German wine, choral music, sing-alongs, scavenger hunts, live music, traditional dance, and interactive activities for all ages. Cost: Admission is free. Learn more »

Flag Day at Sibley
June 14 @ 9 am to 5 pm - Mendota: Sibley Historic Site - Free admission in celebration of National Flag Day, with an opportunity to speak with flag expert Rick Magee about his reproduced American Revolutionary flags. Guided tours are available throughout the day. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Book Launch for Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin: Political Pathfinder
June 15 @ 6:30 pm to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Minnesota Humanities Center - Join the official launch of Marie Louise Bottineau Baldwin: Political Pathfinder, featuring series editor and former Minneapolis Poet Laureate Heid E. Erdrich and author Hema Erdrich Patel in a reading, conversation, and discussion of Baldwin’s life, legacy, and political vision. Cost: Free. Location: Birchbark Bizhiw. Learn more »

History of Rochesterfest
June 16 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Rochester: Olmsted County Historical Center - A panel discussion about the history and evolution of Rochesterfest, featuring planners and volunteers who helped shape the city’s summer celebration. Cost: Free members/$5 non-members. Learn more »

Public Land Survey Basics: Placing Your Ancestor in the Township and Range Grid
June 17 @ 7 to 8:15 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Genealogical Society - This webinar explains the Public Land Survey System and how meridians, baselines, townships, ranges, and sections can help you pinpoint your ancestor’s land on modern maps; it also covers preemption, bounty land warrants, and homesteads. Cost: Free. Learn more »

MN Main Street Deep Dive: Chamber of Connection, presenter Aaron Hurst
June 17 @ 10 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Rethos - Aaron Hurst presents the Chamber of Connection, a research-based framework focused on safety, emotional bonding, bridging social divides, and civic engagement to help improve communities. Cost: $10 general public. Learn more »

Polish Literature in English Reading Group
June 17 @ 7 pm to 8:30 pm - Minneapolis: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota - The group begins reading Henryk Sienkiewicz’s Trilogy this summer, starting with the first volume, With Fire and Sword, and will meet on Wednesdays (with slight variation), watching the film at the end of the summer. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Hubbard House After Hours Cabinet of Curiosities: Strange Objects & Local Lore
June 17 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Blue Earth: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Step into a lively series of short performances where characters from Blue Earth County’s past share bizarre, surprising, and often hilarious tales about strange objects and stranger stories in the Hubbard House mansion. Cost: $10 members/$15 non-members. Learn more »

Dr. Kathleen Jordan: Tuberculosis in Minnesota 1930–1970
June 18 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Morton: Renville County Historical Society - This presentation explores Dr. Kathleen Jordan’s 40-year medical effort to combat tuberculosis in Minnesota, including her work conducting and interpreting around 2 million Mantoux tests, educating the public, and helping nearly eliminate the disease from the state. As of 2023, only 160 total cases were confirmed in Minnesota. Cost: Free Will Donation. Learn more »

2026 Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration at Edgewater Bay Pavilion
June 19 - Albert Lea: Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau - Join the community for an evening celebrating Juneteenth with refreshments starting at 5:30 pm and the main program at 6 pm, featuring speakers, artists, community reflection, a tribute to educator John Smith by artist Erika Saindon, appearances by comedian Day Peace, barber educator Rashi Dildy, youth advocates, and open poetry opportunities. Learn more » 

Juneteenth Jubilee
June 19 @ 1 to 5 pm - Roseville: Arts Roseville - Come for the coffee, stay for the culture, and engage in community at this free, family-friendly event featuring live music performances, community artists, a book nook with storytelling, and interactive activities celebrating the creative heart of Black neighbors. Location: Showtime Studio and Coffee. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Somali Heritage and Arts Summer Festival
June 20 @ 3 to 7 pm - Minneapolis: Somali Museum of Minnesota - An outdoor festival highlighting the powerful role of art in building community, featuring live traditional music, interactive art stations, and a marketplace with local Somali artists. Learn more »

Cary Griffith – Blowdowns, wolves, and bears!
June 21 @ 2 to 3:30 pm - Grand Marais: Chik-Wauk Museum & Nature Center - Author Cary J. Griffith, recipient of a Minnesota Book Award and Midwest Book Award, will discuss his book Gunflint Falling: Blowdown in the Boundary Waters about the devastating 1999 blowdown storm in the BWCAW, as well as his newest Sam Rivers mystery Grizzly Narrows and nonfiction The Prism of the Wolf. 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: Koochiching County and Bronko Nagurski Museum - operated by the Koochiching County Historical Society in International Falls, MN.

FREE Community Media Preservation Workshop
June 17 @ 8:30 am to 4 pm - St. Paul: Minnesota Media Arts and St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN) - Free in-person workshop offering content, media digitization demonstrations, and discussion to help community makers understand risks to aging audiovisual recordings, gain deeper insight into the preservation process, and plan next steps for archiving. Part of a statewide initiative providing baseline surveys, practical webinars, and hands-on workshops to build sustainable archiving skills for safeguarding Minnesota's cultural legacy. This program has been financed in part with funds provided by the State of Minnesota from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the Minnesota Historical Society. Location: SPNN Offices. Cost: Free (pre-registration required). Learn more »

MALHM History Happy Hour
June 17 @ 6 to 8 pm - Mendota: Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums - Join museum, archive, and historic site professionals for a History Happy Hour, a blend of casual socializing, drinks, and professional development in Mendota! They'll meet at the Sibley Historic Site for a tour & discussion, and then move across the road to Lucky 13's Pub for food, drinks, and networking. Network with colleagues, share research, and discuss industry trends outside of a formal setting. Location: Sibley Historic Site & Lucky 13's Pub. Free to attend, but please RSVP »

Informational Session on Expanding Community Access for Underserved Audiences
June 24 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: Museums for All – Staff from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Association of Children’s Museums discuss why and how your organization can join Museums for All, which provides free or reduced admission to over 1,600 U.S. museums for people receiving SNAP food assistance. Cost: Not specified. Learn more »

The Board Member's Guide to Good Governance Workshop Series
July 9 through July 30 @ 1:30 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits – 4-part virtual workshop series for anyone considering board service, currently serving, or seeking a refresher, exploring nonprofit governance with practical tools, principles, and long-term strategies led by experienced nonprofit leaders. Cost: $175 members/$255 non-members for full series; individual workshops $50 members/$70 non-members. Learn more »

• Nonprofit Board 101: Basic Board Member Duties – July 9

• Board Member Legal and Human Resources Responsibilities – July 16

• Financial Information Board Members Should Know – July 23

• Nonprofit Board Inclusion: DEI Success Strategies – July 30

From Fragmentation to Alignment: Project Management in Museums
July 15 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Alliance of Museums – Project management in museums is a critical discipline for aligning strategy, people, and resources to deliver meaningful value, not just task tracking. Drawing from the author’s forthcoming book and a cross-institutional survey on digital tools, communication, and collaboration, this session explores museum project work conditions, the project life cycle, and cross-project patterns that drive institutional alignment. Participants will examine how projects function within broader museum systems, identify friction and misalignment in their own institutions, and learn how strategic project management can address these challenges. Cost: Free members/$40 nonmembers. Learn more »

Unlocking Your Site’s Membership Potential
July 16 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History – Using case studies from small history organizations, this webinar explores ways to improve membership systems, add value to memberships without increasing expenses, and involve your board in membership efforts. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Can I take a picture? What museum photography policies reveal about visitor experiences - Engaging Places

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Humanities in Place
Deadline - Rolling: The Mellon Foundation – Supports institutions and organizations advancing fuller exploration of community histories and sites in the U.S. through place-based projects, including work with history museums, heritage spaces, and public storytelling. Grants encourage innovative approaches to documenting, interpreting, and engaging with underacknowledged histories and communities. Proposals accepted by invitation only. Learn more »

Support Available for Professional Theatres and Dance Companies 
The Shubert Foundation is dedicated to sustaining and advancing the live performing arts in the United States. Learn more »

Northwest Area Foundation
An invitation-based grantmaking process focusing on building racial, social, and economic justice for Native Americans, communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and people in rural areas. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Koochiching County Museum, International Falls, MN (1980s). 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.

Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture
June 23 @ 5 to 7:30 pm (includes reception) - St. Paul: National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission - As part of an ongoing effort to build a national museum dedicated to Asian Pacific American history and culture, the bipartisan, congressionally appointed National Asian Pacific American Museum Commission is hosting convenings and listening sessions across the country. Your voice and perspective will help shape this historic initiative. Co-Hosts: Wilder Foundation, Minnesota Historical Society, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Hmong Museum. Location: Wilder Foundation, Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Parkway North. Learn more »

What's New in Archival Cataloging for May
Collections with additions or added digital content this month include the American Revolution Bicentennial Commission Memorabilia; the Archives Commission Records Disposition Files; the Tony Glover Papers; the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources Subject Files and Reports; the Minnesota Radicalism Project Records; the United States District Court Monitor for the Welsch Consent Decree: Welsch Consent Decree Files; and the Willmar State Hospital Patient Records. In addition, many newly encoded finding aids are now available online for the first time. Learn more »

Call for Exhibit Hosts: We Are Water MN – Deadline Extended!
The Minnesota Humanities Center and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency invite communities to apply to host the We Are Water MN traveling exhibition during its 2027–2028 tour. This immersive program strengthens connections between Minnesotans and the water that sustains us through local storytelling, exploration, and community events. Host sites will be selected to help visitors understand how water is used, conserved, and protected. Host organizations may receive up to $10,000 for exhibit and event expenses. The strongest host community applicants will describe how they intend to leverage hosting We Are Water MN to build new partnerships and connect with their communities through creative public events and activities.

They strongly recommend that host sites:

• Have at least 1,000 sq. ft. to allocate for the We are Water MN Exhibition.

• Have at least three paid staff members who can participate on the planning team. Please note that these members may be from different partner organizations committed to working together to host the exhibit.

Applications are due June 21, 2026. Learn more & apply »

Fond du Lac Band considering new tourism hub
Pine Journal - A new building would not replace the existing museum on Big Lake Road, but instead could offer an expanded museum, artifact storage, archaeology lab, offices, classrooms, food and retail spaces. Continue reading »

Rushford’s Historic Depot to reopen with improvements
KTTC News - The Rushford Area Historical Society is reopening the Historic Depot Museum after more than a year of renovations. Phase One of the restoration project recently wrapped up construction, addressing critical structural issues including a failing foundation and deteriorating roof. Continue reading »

Waseca County Historical Society prepares to sell massive mystery flag, origins still unknown
KEYC News - The Waseca County Historical Society says the mystery surrounding an old, massive U.S. Battalion Flag discovered at the Waseca County fairgrounds may remain a mystery for now. After more than a year of searching for where it came from, the society says it will have to sell the piece due to storage concerns. Continue reading/Watch video »

Access to history increased through new partnership
Morrison County Record - The partnership between the Minnesota Historical Society and the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism will allow Charles Lindbergh House & Museum to reopen in 2027. Continue reading »

Paint the town purple: Minneapolis honors Prince with concerts, block parties and a new museum
Sahan Journal - Prince fans will paint Minneapolis purple this weekend as concerts, block parties and a new museum opening celebrate his musical legacy and what would have been his 68th birthday Sunday. Continue reading »

Featured Book An Ojibwe Home in the City: White Earth Women and Community Organizing in Minneapolis, by Sasha Maria Suarez. University of Minnesota Press.	Featured Article Minnesota History Indian Visits: Stereotypes of Minnesota's Native People Volume 53, Issue 3, 1992	Featured Article MNopedia Quatrefoil Library Featured MNopedia Article	Minnesota Unraveled A podcast series by the Minnesota Historical Society

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.

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 »