Field Note

MNHS Staff joined a strong turnout of community members at Voyager Park in Pine City for the unveiling of a new historical marker recognizing the early growth of rural LGBTQ Pride gatherings. Jack Matheson, Vice President of Strategy for the Minnesota Historical Society, spoke alongside the mayor and a representative from the Pine City Area History Association. Funded by a Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant, the marker commemorates a 2005 picnic that drew 50–70 people and helped spark rural Pride celebrations across the region with at least 15 established annual Pride festivals outside of the Twin Cities metro area in Greater Minnesota. Pine City is the host to the annual East Central Minnesota Pride, celebrating its 21st year. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

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. 

JUNE Grants Open House
June 4 - 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!

Three Early Photographers
By the beginning of the 20th century, over 30 photographers had worked in Blue Earth County, including a number of women. They may have been taking pictures of buildings and landscapes, but most photographic work was of people. It might be a formal pose in the studio, or it might be a more informal picture of a gathering of family and friends posed outside their home.

As popular as photographers seemed to be, some having multiple sites throughout the county and beyond, they came and went, with studios changing ownership and locations regularly.

Among the earliest photographers was G. E. (George Eldon) Keene, who ran his photography business from 1885 to 1927, amassing fourteen branch studios in Southern Minnesota. Keene was born in Mankato in 1858, part of a pioneer family. As a young man, he farmed near Nicollet. His first studio was at 803 South Front Street. In 1897, he purchased a building at Byron and Front, enlarging his business. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Tastes of Spring - Wright County Historical Society
• From the President - June 2026 -  Danish American Center 
• Part six of the Eveleth newspapers series Busy boys…better boys: Honoring the newspaper boys - Jim Froemming/Hometown Focus
• Three new initiatives center innovation at the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine - U of MN Libraries
• Henry Jackman – Farmer and Public Servant - Washington County Historical Society

From the Tube

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

More MN Tube posts

• Cold Spring Brewery - Stearns History Museum
• A Ghost Town, Crumbling School, and Forgotten Monument – The Souris River Trestle Story - Minnesota Bricks
• Whiz Bang Boyhoods - Robbinsdale Historical Society
• Old Anoka Post Office - Anoka County Historical Society
• Family History and the Myths of Jewish Migration - U of MN Libraries

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

MNHS

• Communications Coordinator - MN History Center

• Institutional Retail Manager - MN History Center

LOCAL

• Senior Curator - Weisman Art Museum, U of MN, Minneapolis, MN

• Executive Director - Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul, MN

REGIONAL

• Experience Associate - Cultural Heritage Center, South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD

• Museum Aide - Siouxland Heritage Museums, Sioux Falls, SD 

• Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist - Civic Engagement & Public History - South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD

• Tour Guide - Villa Louis, Wisconsin Historical Society, Prairie du Chien, WI

• Visitor Services Specialist - Madeline Island Museum, Wisconsin Historical Society, La Pointe, WI

• Event Coordinator - Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Society, Eagle, WI

• Exhibit Developer - Grout Museum District, Waterloo, IA

• Rentals & Volunteer Coordinator - Grout Museum District, Waterloo, IA

• Electronic Records Specialist - Drake University, Des Moines, IA

• K-12 Education Specialist - Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, Medora, ND

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

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Objects Conservator (Associate or Senior) - The Conservation Center, Chicago, IL

• Conservator of Gilded Objects and Frames (Associate or Senior) - The Conservation Center, Chicago, IL

• Director of the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry and Head of Education - Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Executive Director - Illinois Amish Heritage Center, Arthur, IL

• Special Collections Assistant - Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

• Museum Maintenance Technician - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

• Construction Manager - Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis, IN

• Regional Education and Outreach Manager - Ohio Holocaust and Genocide Memorial and Education Commission, Columbus, OH

• Exhibit Fabricator - Wilson Bruce Evans House, Oberlin, OH

• Guest Services Representative - Holden Forests & Gardens, Kirtland, OH

• Manager of Educational Programs - Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, MI

• Publicity Manager - Michigan State University Press, East Lansing, MI

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

• Editor II - State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO

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

• Assistant Manager, Visitor Services - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB

• Program Facilitator, Archives and Heritage - Canadian National Exhibition, Toronto, ON

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

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

1950s photo of the carhops (waitresses) from the A&W in Duluth, Minnesota.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the St. Louis County Historical Society.

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

Illuminating Immigration in Media: Contemporary Perspectives from Sweden and the Twin Cities
June 4 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: American Swedish Institute - A panel discussion with journalists from The Local Sweden and Sahan Journal, moderated by Fred de Sam Lazaro, exploring how immigration issues are covered in Sweden and Minnesota and what each country can learn from the other. Cost: Sliding scale. Learn more » 

Children’s Day and the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse
June 7 @ 5 to 7 pm - Edina: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - A vibrant celebration of Children’s Day and the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse featuring the Călușarii dance ensemble led by John Omorean, traditional Romanian music and dance, a showcase of the Romanian blouse (ie), family-friendly activities, and opportunities to learn about Romanian customs. Location: Rosland Park. Learn more »

Polish Fest at Urban Growler Brewing Co.
June 7 @ 1 to 5 pm - St. Paul: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota (PACIM) - Celebrate Polish roots with Polish-style smoked wheat beer (Grodziskie), Polish sausage and fare, and live performances from the Dolina Polish Folk Dancers from 2 to 3 pm; visit the PACIM table for upcoming programming. Location: Urban Growler Brewing Company. Learn more »

June Gunflint Trail Historical Society Annual Membership Meeting
June 8 @ 1 to 3 pm - Gunflint Trail: Gunflint Trail Historical Society - The annual membership meeting includes a board update and a presentation by Mark Ellis on common loons, featuring stunning imagery and storytelling about loon breeding, chicks, and parent–young dynamics, with practical photography tips. Attend in person at the Seagull Community Center or online via Zoom. Treats and conversations follow. Learn more » 

Midtsommer Gala 2026
June 10 @ 5 to 9 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - A celebration of Midtsommer storytelling and folklore that supports Norway House’s mission to connect the United States with contemporary Norway and turn the page to “The Next Chapter.” Learn more »

Vaccine Clinic with Doc Predmore
Jun 10 @ 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Olmsted County Public Health Rabies Vaccination Clinic with Dr. Predmore on the History Center grounds; no appointments needed, pets must be in carriers or on a leash, and bring your previous rabies certificate if you have one. Cost: $20 per animal. Learn more » 

Civil War Roundtable: Red River Campaign
June 11 @ 1:30 pm - Litchfield: Meeker County Museum - Presented by Dean Urdahl, this roundtable explores the Red River Campaign of the Civil War. Learn more » 

Hiking Through History: Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park
June 11 @ 5:30 to 6:30 pm - Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park: Stearns History Museum - Join the Stearns History Museum and Stearns County Parks for a gentle 1 to 1.5 mile hike through one of Stearns County’s beautiful parks, with natural history, ecosystems, and a bit of local history along the way. Location: Kraemer Lake-Wildwood County Park. Cost: Free. Learn more »

We the People: Then and Now
June 13 @ 9:30 to 11:30 am - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - An engaging look at the nation’s founding documents in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. Location: St. Peter Community Center, Room 219. Cost: Free. Learn more »

June Genealogy Saturday
June 13 @ 10 am to 12 pm - Elbow Lake: Grant County Historical Society - The June meeting will focus on AI and family research, inviting participants to share what has and hasn’t worked when using AI for genealogy. Learn more » 

Family Fun Day: First Responders
June 13 @ 12 to 3 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Learn about the history of first responders in Goodhue County and meet local responders from the Goodhue County Sheriff Department and Red Wing’s Police and Fire Departments, with opportunities to touch a truck. Cost: Free. Learn more » 

Apollo Club Returns to Stillwater
June 13 @ 3 to 5 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - The Washington County Historical Society presents “Our Songs, Our Stories: Apollo Club Returns to Stillwater,” featuring the award-winning, all-male choral group with 130 years of artistry, leadership, and cultural excellence deeply connected to Minnesota’s history. Location: Manitou Fund Education and Arts Center. Learn more » 

Book Talk - Dive into the Neurodivergent Multiverse w/Bryden Carlson-Giving
June 13 @ 10 to 11 am - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - Bryden Carlson-Giving, OTD, OTR/L, discusses neurodiversity, disability culture, the medical model of disability, ableism, and the neurodiversity framework, introduces occupational therapy in schools, and facilitates an activity for attendees to explore their own neurodivergence. Books will be for sale on site. Cost: Free. Learn more » 

The River Gallery Open House
June 13 @ 10 am to 4 pm - Winona: Winona Historical Society - Celebrate the new River Gallery at the Winona County Historical Society Museum with free admission, light refreshments, and exhibits on Dakota connections to the Mississippi, the Latsch Island Boathouse Community, river conservation, steamboats, the lumber industry, and how roads and railways expanded travel beyond the River. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Downtown Past & Present
June 14 @ 11 am to 1:30 pm - Sacred Heart: Sacred Heart Area Historical Society - Continue celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a catered meal and a virtual tour of Downtown by local historian Sonja Thune, followed by a stroll to see window displays and interpretive signs highlighting historic businesses. Ticket sales support Hotel Sacred Heart rehabilitation. Email for more information at sonjathune@gmail.com.

Juneteenth Celebration
June 19 @ 10 am to 2 pm - Fergus Falls: Otter Tail County Museum - A Juneteenth celebration commemorating the 1865 emancipation announcement with free admission all day, crafts to make and take, red velvet cookies and red punch, and historical programs at 10 am (Black Veterans of Otter Tail County), noon (Who was Prince Honeycutt?), and 2 pm (Fighting For Freedom: contributions of black craftspeople and artisans). Also visit the A Legacy of Service exhibit. Cost: Free. For more information email mhermes@otchs.org.

Throwback Time Capsule Bash: A 70s Retro Reveal Party!
June 25 @ 5 to 9 pm - St. Paul: North Star Museum of Boy and Girl Scouting - Witness local history as a 50-year-old time capsule is officially unveiled with items on display at the museum; the capsule will be dug up on June 15, and will be opened by museum experts before the grand reveal. 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: Christdala Evangelical Swedish Lutheran Church, operated by the Christdala Church Preservation & Cemetery Association in Forest Township, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.

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! We'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 »

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 »

FREE Upcoming Midwest Art Conservation Center Workshop 
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 » 

Individual Giving 201
June 16 @ 10 to 11:30 am (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits – 90-minute virtual workshop to grow your individual giving program beyond basics, led by Aligned Strategy Group. Learn to develop a donor stewardship strategy grounded in community-centric fundraising, create an efficient donor qualification framework, determine infrastructure for bigger/complex asks, and craft actionable strategies for deeper donor relationships. Best for fundraising professionals, executive directors, and nonprofit leaders managing active individual donor programs. Cost: $50 members/$70 nonmembers. Learn more »

Saving Places: Introducing the Heritage Now! Campaign
June 16 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: National Trust for Historic Preservation – First in a three-part forum webinar series introducing Heritage Now!, a global campaign advancing heritage-informed decarbonization strategies that connect climate action, cultural heritage, and community resilience. Learn how building reuse, retrofit, and traditional building practices reduce carbon emissions while supporting sustainable communities, plus how to join and contribute to this international effort. Learn more »

The Awe Advantage
June 24 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Alliance of Museums – Online workshop on the science and emotion of awe, led by Rebecca Corona, Ph.D., with Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga and moderated by Mary Shafer, exploring how to use awe to design museum experiences, spark curiosity, strengthen community connection, and support well-being and resilience. Learn how to incorporate eight “awe types” into content and programming. Cost: Free members/$40 nonmembers. Learn more »

Asian American Journalists Association Convention
June 24 to 28 - Minneapolis, MN: Asian American Journalists Association – Annual convening bringing more than 1,400 AAPI journalists together for four days of programming, networking, and inspiration, with sessions across Community, Innovation, Leadership, Relevance, and Resilience tracks. Some sessions include history-related topics, and local volunteers who complete eight hours of service can receive complimentary registration. Free registration for those who volunteer 8 hours. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• How nonprofits can respond effectively during a PR crisis - Nonprofit Learning Lab

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Additional Educational Opportunities »

Funding & Awards

Investing in Railway Safety, Education, and Historic Preservation
Deadline - Ongoing: North American Railway Foundation - Advances railway safety, efficiency, and technology, and promotes education about and preservation of railroad history in the United States and Canada. Learn more »

Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation - creates grant partnerships with organizations that generate transformational results in human and social services, education, and health and medicine. Grantees must serve the people and communities in the 7-county Twin Cities region. Requests to serve counties that fall outside of these are by invitation only. The Foundation seeks proposals that focus on the areas of Human and Social Services, Education, Health, and Medicine. Learn more »

Vadon Foundation Grants
The Vadon Foundation supports Indigenous-led initiatives focused on language revitalization and community leadership. Grants range broadly, typically from $5,000 to $285,000, and support organizations across the U.S., especially in the Western states. Interested applicants should first contact the foundation via email or phone to discuss their program and potential collaboration. No formal deadlines are listed. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Hill Annex Clubhouse Museum (now closed), near Calumet, 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.

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 sqft 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 »

Pine City plants its marker as home to the first rural Pride in the U.S.
MPR - Nadia Honary-Satriano has moved a lot. Originally from Iowa, she moved to Minneapolis and then an even bigger city, Los Angeles. She thought she’d stay in California, working in cinematography and directing. But then she met Diane at Twin Cities Pride during a visit to Minnesota and fell in love. Nadia and Diane Honary-Satriano married in 2021 in St. Paul, and then made what could be considered their biggest move of all — an hour drive north to Pine City, population 3,100. Now, they say they’re living what was their real dream all along — owning a small farm in eastern Minnesota, making videos of their chickens (including a one-act play Nadia wrote, acted out by their friends) and living in the town where the first rural LGBTQ+ Pride in the country took place. Continue reading »

Roblox game aims to teach Minnesotans Black history
Star Tribune - A Macalester College student taught herself coding to make Enter the Rondo-Verse. The virtual platform aims to teach youth about the Rondo neighborhood and its residents who’ve made history across Minnesota. Continue reading »

Featured Book Making History: Makerspaces for Museums and Historic Sites, by Tim Betz. Bloomsbury Publishing | American Association for State and Local History.	Featured Article Minnesota History Something Must Be Done for Them: Establishing Minnesota's First Hospital for the Insane Volume 53, Issue 2, 1992	Featured Article MNopedia Over the Rainbow: Queer and Trans History in Minnesota 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.

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