Local History Services staff were on hand for the opening of the exhibit “Nobles County: A Second Home for Immigrants,” at the Nobles County Heritage Center on Sunday, March 22. The exhibit, more than six years in the making, tells the story of how immigrants have contributed to the county’s growth and development, from the settlement era pioneers up until today’s most recent newcomers. The opening reception included remarks from several Worthington area residents who came to the community from places like Laos, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and more.
Spotlighted Project: Accessible Storage for Jordan Area Historical Society Artifacts, Documents, and Ephemera
Until 2015, the museum had no formal exhibition space. Many artifacts once stored in the Jordan City Hall basement faced threat from poor conditions and limited accessibility. The new shelving increased collection capacity by nearly 80% within the existing footprint. This upgrade established a safer, organized work area and preserved the community’s historic materials for continued use by researchers, students, and local families.
Recipient: Jordan Area Historical Society
Amount funded: $10,000
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, April 10, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
APRIL Grants Open House
April 2 - 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 »
This week's blog post is from the Meeker County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
Early Black Families in Meeker County
If you’ve visited the G.A.R. Hall or are familiar with Meeker County history, you might know the name “Van Spence.” Albert Van Spence and his family called Meeker County home for over two decades. While the family was in the minority, they weren’t the only Blacks in Meeker County at the time. A look at the 1880 US Federal Census shows four Black families working at the Ames brickyard northeast of Litchfield in Darwin Township. This included James and Clara Malone, Jeremiah Vader and family, Albert Van Spence, and James Blair.
These men and women had more in common than working together, in fact, they all came to Meeker County from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Starting in the 1860s, Fond du Lac had a successful brick-making factory. By 1878, production was on the decline, and the factory soon closed. It’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Van Spence and company working together, losing their jobs together, and relocating to Meeker County together. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Koochiching County 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.
Vice President, Finance - MN History Center
Interpreter II - Alexander Ramsey House & James J. Hill House
Assistant Curator - Minnesota Museum of American Art, St Paul, MN
Project Manager - Kidzibits Inc, St Paul, MN
Visitor Assistant: Box Office - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Visitor Assistant: Galleries - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Camp Assistant - The Works, Bloomington, MN
Iowa Women's Archives Collections Archivist - The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Historic School Tour Guide - Reed School Historic Site, Wisconsin Historical Society, Neillsville, WI
Blacksmith and Sawyer - Historic Wade House, Wisconsin Historical Society, Greenbush, WI
Facilities Repair Worker-ADV - Historic Wade House, Wisconsin Historical Society, Greenbush, WI
Historic Site Interpretive Guide - Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, Historical Society of North Dakota, Medora, ND; Job ID: 3032483
Exhibits/Outreach Specialist - Museum of Geology at the South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD
Chief Operating Officer - Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, Crazy Horse, SD
Experience Associate - Cultural Heritage Center, South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD
Museum Experience Sales Manager - Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago, Glenview, IL
Museum Educator - Naper Settlement, Naperville, IL
Executive Assistant - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
School and Youth Program Manager - Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
Archaeology Field Technician - Ohio History Connection, Fort Laurens, Bolivar, OH
Archeology Collections Coordinator - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
Membership and Partnerships Manager - Ohio Humanities, Columbus, OH
Interpreter - Flint Ridge - Ohio History Connection, Glenford, OH
Director of Development - Muskegon Museum of Art, Muskegon, MI
Museum Events & Operations Coordinator - Bentley Historical Library and Judy & Stanley Frankel Detroit Observatory, Detroit, MI
Audio-Moving Image Preservation Librarian - University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Project Manager/Development Coordinator - Pennsylvania Heritage Foundation/Eckley Miners' Village, Weatherly, PA
Librarian II (University Archivist) - Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO
Financial Manager - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE
Registrar - Cass County Historical Society Museum, Plattsmouth, NE
Museum Guide - The Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum, Ottawa, ON
Admissions Associate - Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton AB
Graphic Designer - Arts, Culture and Status of Women Ministry, Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton AB
Call for Proposals: Help Shape a New Asynchronous Oral History Course - Oral History Association Council, Remote
Digital Cataloging and Review/History Internships - Theodore Roosevelt Center, Dickinson State University, Dickinson, ND (Remote)
Intern - Muscatine Art Center, Muscatine, IA
Education and Programs Summer Intern - Muscatine Art Center Muscatine, IA
Collections Management Summer Intern - Iowa Jewish Historical Society, Waukee, IA
Exhibits and Interpretation Internship - Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
June 1927. The Leif Erickson Ship in Duluth
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Carlton County Historical Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
A Legacy of Service Exhibit
Now open through December 31 - Fergus Falls: Otter Tail County Historical Society - New temporary exhibit commemorates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, showcasing over 161 military items, uniforms, photographs, and memorabilia from Otter Tail County veterans across all U.S. wars. The exhibit highlights family sacrifices, ancestral homeland connections, and local contributions to global conflicts, with veteran organization displays, American flags, 1976 Bicentennial items, letters home, and a station to write letters to current service members collected by D.A.R. Learn more »
Unsettling Refugees: Vietnamese Refugees Fighting Displacement in America's Suburbs
March 25 @ 5 to 6:15 pm - Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Asian American Studies Program & Immigration History Research Center - Dr. Jennifer Huynh discusses how Vietnamese refugees and their children in Orange County’s Little Saigon resist displacement, practice placemaking, and fight for immigrant justice amid suburban inequality and anti-immigrant violence. Location: Pillsbury Hall, Room 120. Cost: Free. Learn more »
They Answered the Call: Minnesota's Beltrami County Women in WWII
March 28 @ 10:30 am to 11:30 am - Bemidji: Beltrami County History Center - Retired BSU professor Mike Herbert presents his new book on Beltrami County women who served in WWII, discussing his research and sharing their stories; books available for purchase and signing. For more information call 218-444-3376.
Art & Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
March 28 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Saint Paul: Macalester College Library - Participants gather at DeWitt Wallace Library to improve Wikipedia’s coverage of women, gender, and the arts, with support for new and experienced editors. Location: DeWitt Wallace Library, Macalester College. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Beginning Genealogy (Class)
March 29 @ 1 to 4 pm - Mendota Heights: Minnesota Genealogical Society - Are you refreshed and ready to start discovering your family's history? MGS Library Manager Jeanne Bielke-Rodenbiker will provide you with tips and tools to make 2026 the year you find out. A useful handout and library tour are included. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Museum Makers Class: Pisanki Egg Decorating
April 1 @ 1 to 3:30 pm and 4 to 6:30 pm - Winona: Winona County History Center - Create traditional Polish/Ukrainian Pisanki or Pysanky eggs using the wax-resist batik method; all supplies provided, suitable for ages 12+. Cost: $10 members/$15 nonmembers. Learn more »
Solving Your Picture Problems with Alison Maughan
April 1 @ 7 to 8:15 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Genealogical Society - This free program shows how to tackle problem photos with missing labels, conflicting names and dates, and unfamiliar faces so family pictures can be effectively used in genealogical research. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Archive Explorer: Women & Records
April 2 @ 6 to 7 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - This program examines why women can be hard to find in historical records, where their stories do appear, and offers practical strategies for locating, interpreting, and amplifying women’s voices in the archives through real examples and expert tips. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Amateur Baseball in Wright County
April 4 @ 10 to 11 am - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - Brian "Bookie" Larson presents stats, records, and stories from his updated book covering North Star League teams 1951-2025, including long-gone teams; the award-winning league historian served 50 years as an officer. For more information email outreach@wrighthistory.org.
Embracing Our Roots: Rooted and Rising with Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little
April 4 @ 1 to 3 pm - Minneapolis: U of MN Libraries - Beloved artists and culture bearers Carolyn Holbrook and Arleta Little reflect on the paths that shaped their lives and careers in a cross-generational conversation that connects Black arts elders and next-generation leaders, highlighting cultural milestones in Minnesota’s arts community. Location: Elmer L. Andersen Library, Givens Conference Suite 120. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Historic Streets, Hidden Risks: Lessons from the 7th Street Sinkhole
April 6 @ 6:30 to 8 pm - St. Paul: Rethos - This Drinking in History program at Patrick McGovern's explores what the 7th Street sinkhole reveals about Saint Paul's historic infrastructure, geology, early European settlement, and future investments. Location: Patrick McGovern's Pub. Cost: $10–$15. Learn more »
Traditional Finger Weaving from the Somali Museum
April 6 @ 5:30 to 7:30 pm - Mounds View: Ramsey County Library, Mounds View - Participants drop in any time during this hands-on cultural experience to learn traditional Somali weaving techniques, hear instructors’ stories, and create their own woven artwork; appropriate for all ages. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Research in Progress: Rethinking Norwegian-American Women's History with the Inaugural NAHA Fellows
April 9 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Norwegian American Historical Association - NAHA Fellows Mona Holm and Marika Josephson share their research on Norwegian-American women's transnational experiences using NAHA archives, moderated by editor Anna Peterson. This behind-the-scenes conversation will explore how new scholarship is bringing fresh perspectives to the study of Norwegian immigration to North America. Cost: Free. Learn more »
How Mid-Century Commercial Architecture Helped Transform Golden Valley
April 9 @ 7 pm - Golden Valley: Golden Valley Historical Society - Guest speaker Bobak Ha’Eri of Docomomo US/MN shares photos and stories of postwar commercial buildings and companies, including General Mills and Midwest Federal, that helped shift Golden Valley from village to first-ring suburb; talk followed by Q&A. 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: Henning Landmark Center, Henning, MN.
Photograph by Farragutful, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.
Nonprofit Compliance: Legal Requirements and Best Practices
April 16 @ 3 to 4 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits – This free session outlines key legal obligations and compliance best practices for nonprofits, helping staff and board members understand required filings, policies, and risk management steps to protect their organizations. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Water Management 101: Safeguarding Collections in Small and Mid-Sized Institutions
April 16 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections Care – Learn how basic building water management can protect collections in everything from historic houses to modern facilities, including how to prevent moisture problems, spot leaks, and understand waterproofing systems. The session also prepares you to speak confidently with contractors, waterproofing specialists, and engineers about issues and repairs. Cost: Free. Learn more »
“Other Duties As Assigned”: Mastering the Multifaceted Role of a Nonprofit Leader
April 22 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Firespring – Nonprofit executive directors often juggle endless responsibilities from leadership and fundraising to operations and HR. In this session, Kiersten Hill shares practical strategies for balancing passion with professional priorities, mastering collaboration, prioritizing effectively, and practicing sustainable leadership to thrive in multifaceted roles. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Conference information | Session Schedule | Hotels & Venue Info | Register
Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums Annual Conference & Meeting
April 28 - 30, 2026, Mankato, MN
Don't miss the MALHM Annual Conference & Meeting—your chance to connect, learn, and share with colleagues from across the state.
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Volunteer Recognition 2026
Deadline - April 3, 2026: Thousands of volunteers across Minnesota dedicate their time and resources to preserve and share our collective history. We want to celebrate them! Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums invites member organizations to submit one volunteer name for recognition. A small gift will be available for pick-up by the submitter or organization at the MALHM Annual Conference or mailed following. Volunteer names will be printed in our annual report & read during the annual meeting. Submit name »
Publication Awards
Deadline - May 15, 2026: Disability History Association - Accepting applicants for their Publication Awards for the following: Outstanding Book Award and Outstanding Article or Book Chapter Award. Learn more »
Wayland D. Hand Prize
Deadline - July 1, 2026: American Folklore Society - The Wayland D. Hand Prize honors outstanding books that integrate historical and folkloristic research, recognizing both authored and edited volumes. Winners receive $200 and are celebrated at the AFS annual meeting in October, with publicity in The Journal of History and Folklore. Open to works that advance the study of folklore and history. The annual prize comprises two categories: (1) single or co-authored book and (2) edited volume(s). Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: Anoka County Historical Society, 1870 Anoka Diorama exhibit, Anoka, MN. (1987). 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.
Artist sculpts Vietnam War nurse and 12 other vets for new Minnesota museum
KARE 11 - Even when he's working solo in the loft of his south Minneapolis home, David Geister isn’t alone. “I never get lonely,” the visual artist says. “I always have somebody in the studio with me.” At this moment, David is spending time with Kay Bauer, a Navy nurse who served during the Vietnam War. He is surrounded by others, men and women who fought in America’s wars. David has sculpted them all in clay. Continue reading »
Area historian exploring the forgotten Native American history of Steele County
Owatonna People's Press - Compared to the rich history of the Dakota in Faribault, Owatonna's Native American history has always seemed a bit sparse. Continue reading »
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Featured BookGhosts of Fourth Street: My Family, a Death, and the Hills of Duluth, by Laurie Hertzel. University of Minnesota Press. Book Launch |
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Minnesota UnraveledShe is Here Now: Eliza Winston and Slavery in Minnesota Episode 208 |
Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
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