Field Note

On May 11, staff from the Minnesota Historical Society met with representatives from Minnesota Media Arts and St. Paul Neighborhood Network (SPNN). The two organizations are partners on the Heritage Partnership Program grant to provide trainings that promotes the preservation of media through archival and digitization standards. The next training is on June 17. 

Heritage Preservation Grants

Spotlighted Project: History of the Turbine, Flume, and Mills of Hokah
The City of Hokah completed a project to interpret the turbine, flume, and mills connected to Como Falls Park. Crews mounted the turbine near the fire station, installed a sign to explain its use and the flume, and built a compacted gravel path that guides visitors past the site. The work placed information where people gather, including those who visit the park for picnics, fishing, walking, and events. It addressed the lack of written interpretation for the turbine and flume, which had been visible but not explained, and expanded access beyond limited library hours by providing on-site interpretation at all times.

The project strengthened understanding of Hokah’s milling history and supported continued use of the park as a site for learning and community activity. By linking the turbine and flume to the story of local mills, the project ensured that future generations will encounter and understand this history even after those with direct memory of the turbine’s recovery are gone.
Recipient: City of Hokah
Amount Funded: $3,891.00
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, 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 Hennepin History Museum. Have a blog? Let us know!

Free Digital Museum Guide!
We love our museum, but like a lot of the things we love, we know it’s got some issues. When you walk through the doors of Hennepin History Museum, you’re confronted with a staircase. For some visitors, it’s not a big deal, but for others it’s like the Brady Street hill at the BIX 7 Road Race. Maybe it was already tough to get here and then we hit you with some stairs as soon as you get through the door. I have seen this turn people away. All jokes aside, the stairs are an obstacle for many people. We’re working on being more accessible, but in the mean time, we have partnered with Bloomberg Connects to bring museum content to you wherever you are.

Something New
We’ve added a digital guide to our offerings. Bloomberg Connects is a platform that facilitates free digital guides for museums and cultural institutions. Through a mobile device or computer, you can see our current exhibits, listen to oral history excerpts, and get a glimpse of our most historically valuable artifacts and archival items. Continue Reading »

More MN Blog posts

• Michael Marsh opened first Forest Lake hotel - Washington County Historical Society
• Hennepin Paper Company Video Debuts on YouTube - Morrison County Historical Society
• May Friday History: Short, Sweet Origins of the U of M Bee Lab - Kraus-Anderson
• Museum Parking Under Construction – Summer 2026 - Northwest Airlines History Center

From the Tube

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

Operation Relocation - Part 5
Celebrate with ACHS as the official new owners of Ticknor Hill! Listen in to Director Rebecca and ACHS President Steve at the closing along with Acumen Business Solutions and Village Bank and learn what the next steps in the process of Operation Relocation will be. Spoiler alert - there’s still a lot to do!

Join hosts Sara Given, ACHS Volunteer Coordinator, and Rebecca Desens, ACHS Executive Director, as they share this intriguing story. Listen to podcast »

More MN Tube posts

• My Vocational Rehabilitation and Community Career Tresured Moments, Anthony Scott - African American Registry
• First Memorial Day following World War I in 1919 - Stevens County Historical Society
• Cooperative and Community at May Day Cafe - MinneCulture
• Minnesota State Historic Preservation Review Board Meeting May 19, 2026 - Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office
• Using Polish Language Newspapers to Search for Ancestors - Polish Cultural Center & Museum
• Girling Gets Things Going - Andrew B. Robbinsdale Historical Society
• Black History in the Northland - Dorothy Molter Museum
• Teamsters Metropolis, Author Event with Ryan Murphy - East Side Freedom Library
• Healing Hands: The Sisters of St. Francis and Mayo Clinic - History Center of Olmsted County
• Double Feature: A Sensory Walk Through the Forest: Discovering the Andersen Horticultural Library & Social Change and Experiential Art: The Maureen A. Nappi Papers - U of MN Libraries

Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »

Job Opportunities

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

LOCAL

• Director of Production - History Theatre, St. Paul, MN

• Visitor Services Associate - The American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN

• Registrar/Receptionist - Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Wayzata, MN

• Camp Assistant - The Works, Bloomington, MN

• Summer STEM Educator - The Works, Bloomington, MN

REGIONAL

• Executive Staff Assistant - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI

• Historic Site Grounds and Maintenance Technician - Fort Totten, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Devils Lake, ND; Job ID: 3033007

• Curator of Interpretation - South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, South Dakota State Historical Society, Pierre, SD

• Data & Survey Manager - Iowa State Historic Preservation Office, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Des Moines, IA

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

• Program and Education Assistant - Cantigny Estate, Wheaton, IL

• Archives and Library Assistant - American Society of Anesthesiologists, Schaumburg, IL

• Private Events Associate - Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago, IL

• Guest Engagement Representative - Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL

• Museum Director - Ukrainian National Museum, Chicago, IL

• Field Explorer Summer Camp Instructor - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL

• Environmental Social Scientist - Keller Science Action Center, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL

• Conservation Ecologist - Keller Science Action Center, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL

• Adjunct Tour Specialist, ASL - The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

• Executive Director - Historic Madison, Inc., Madison, IN

• Collections Database Coordinator - Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN

• Collections Manager - Mercer Museum & Fonthill Castle, Doylestown, PA

• Director of Exhibitions - Mid-America Arts Alliance, Kansas City, MO

• Registrar - Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, St. Louis, MO

• Acquisitions Librarian - Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO 

• Director of Exhibitions - Missouri History Museum,d St. Louis, MO

• Paleontology Collection Manager - University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE

• Visitor Experience Coordinator - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB

• RFP, Collection Development Plan - McIntosh Gallery, London, ON

• Manager, Exhibit Design & Production - Glenbow, Calgary, AB

• Grant Writer - Canadian Museum of Architecture, Remote

INTERNSHIPS/VOLUNTEERS/FELLOWSHIPS

• Grippe Curatorial Fellow - Allentown Art Museum, Allentown, PA

Additional Job Postings in the Field »

Do History Here

C.E. Erickson Land Co Parade Float, Milaca, Minnesota.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Milaca Historical Society.

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

Following the Fish: A History of Commercial Fishing along Minnesota’s North Shore
May 28 @ 5 to 7 pm - Two Harbors: Lake County Historical Society - Local author Michael Risku presents his new book, which offers the first comprehensive history of commercial fishing and fishing settlements along Minnesota’s North Shore and shares new conclusions about the fishery from 1650 to the present. Cost: Free. Learn more »

A Raucous Ramble Around Minnehaha Falls
May 30, June 20, August 8 @ 1 to 2:30 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - A one-mile walk led by Karen Cooper exploring the colorful history of Minnehaha Falls—dance halls, secret saloons, lawsuits, and the people (crooks, hoteliers, and saloon owners) who shaped the area and its park. Tour begins at the Longfellow House. Cost: $15–$20. Learn more »

From Synagogue to Church: A Shared North Side Story
May 31 @ 3 to 5 pm - Minneapolis: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest - This event explores a shared North Side history and is presented in partnership with the First Church of God in Christ, Beth El Synagogue, Adath Jeshurun Congregation, and the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives at the University of Minnesota Libraries. Location: First Church of God in Christ – Graham Temple. Learn more »

Threads of Identity: Traditional Romanian Textiles Exhibit
Every Sunday in June @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - This temporary display celebrates Romanian textile heritage with traditional fabrics, garments, and decorative pieces from Maramureș, Bucovina, Oltenia, and Transylvania, showing how geography, history, and community shape artistic expression. Location: Landmark Center. Learn more »

Tshuaj Ntsuab: a compendium of Hmong medicinal plants
June 2 @ 12:30 to 2 pm - Online: Ramsey County Library - Hear from Zongxee Lee, Natalie Hoidal, and Alex Crum as they share a collection that blends traditional knowledge and Western science through family stories, healing recipes, and profiles of plants common in Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Mayo Clinic Lecture Series: “Mayo and the Mississippi: A Passion for the River”
June 4 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - A special film viewing and discussion with speaker Renee Ziemer exploring Dr. William J. Mayo’s connection to the Mississippi River and the deep historical ties between the Mayo family and the river. Cost: Free members/$5 general public. Learn more »

Jordan Creek Walking Tour
June 5 @ 10 to 11:30 am & June 6 @ 1 to 2:30 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Join GCHS on a walking tour of downtown Red Wing following the historic route of Jordan Creek, from City Hall to Levee Park, and learn about the waterway’s history and the buildings built above it. Cost: $20. Learn more » 

Tales from the Graves
June 7 @ 1 to 4 pm - Luverne: Rock County Historical Society - An event commemorating the lives of past Rock County residents, punctuated with pie and ice cream. Learn more » 

Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi: an Environmental Stewardship Non-profit in St. Paul
June 9 @ 12:30 to 2 pm - Online: Ramsey County Library - Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi is a Dakota-led environmental stewardship nonprofit in St. Paul focused on honoring and caring for natural spaces, cultural healing, and preserving local sacred sites and burial mounds. Cost: Free. Learn more »

The Declaration of Independence and Liberty, Then and Now: A Community Conversation
June 9 @ 6 to 8 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Historical Society - A community conversation presented with Braver Angels of Minnesota, the Minnesota Historical Society, and the Minnesota Humanities Center, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the United States’ founding and shared values as Minnesotans. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Treaty of Traverse des Sioux Exhibit Tours
June 9 @ 1 to 2 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - Guided tours at the Treaty Site History Center, where the 1851 Treaty of Traverse des Sioux was signed 175 years ago, exploring the Dakota, why the treaty was negotiated, what it changed, and its lasting legacy on southern Minnesota. Cost: Free members/$5 general public. Learn more »

Breakfast Club: Liz Fiedler Mergen, “Flowers Bloom Anyway”
June 10 @ 9 to 10 am - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Join the monthly Breakfast Club program and hear local business owner, flower farmer, and author Liz Fiedler Mergen discuss her new book, Flowers Bloom Anyway. Cost: Free members/$7 general public. Learn more » 

Stories of Somali Motherhood: Uncovering the Impacts of U.S. Child Protection Service Intervention on Somali Mothers’ Self-Understandings
June 10 @ 2 to 3 pm - Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Libraries/Immigration History Research Center Archives - Johara Suleiman, PhD presents an oral history-informed study on first-generation Somali immigrant mothers’ interactions with the U.S. child welfare system, the history of mandatory reporting laws, and the impacts of those interventions on self-understanding and family life. Cost: Free. Learn more »

America's 250th Lecture Series: Supreme Court from 1987 to Present: Rehnquist and Roberts at Lawshe
June 11 @ 6 to 8 pm - South St. Paul: Dakota County Historical Society - This lecture explores the Supreme Court from 1987 to the present, focusing on the Rehnquist and Roberts Courts. Cost: $5 members/$10 general public. Learn more »

Bob Sandeen Day 
June 12 @ 10:30 am to 1 pm - St. Peter: Nicollet County Historical Society - A drop-in celebration honoring Bob Sandeen’s 25 years of service to the Nicollet County Historical Society, where he served as Research Coordinator, cared for archival collections, assisted thousands of researchers, and continued daily work after his 2015 retirement. Guests can enjoy treats, share stories, and recognize his dedication to local history. 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, with participants invited to share what has and hasn’t worked when using it for genealogy. Learn more » 

Somali Traditional Weaving Workshop
June 13 @ 2 to 4 pm - Minneapolis: Somali Museum - A hands-on cultural experience to learn traditional Somali weaving techniques and create intricate, vibrant woven artworks, with stories and insights from the Somali Museum’s Weaving Instructors. 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: Lake Park Area Historical Society Museum in Lake Park, MN.

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 »

Appraising Preservation Easements: Navigating IRS Guidelines and Valuation Challenges
June 3 @ 1 to 2:30 pm (CT) - Online: Preservation Leadership Training – Explore historic preservation easements as a tool for preserving historic properties, especially when combined with federal and state tax credits for rehabilitation. Learn common causes of IRS review concerns, the "before and after" valuation method, how to spot faulty appraisals with unrealistic assumptions, and lessons from the Tax Court case Corning Place Ohio, LLC vs. Commissioner that denied a multimillion-dollar deduction. Gain confidence to encourage easement donations as a key preservation strategy. Cost: $50. Learn more »

Creating a Staff Safety Plan
June 9 @ 2 to 3:15 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History – Drawing on AASLH and NCPH Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Task Force research, this webinar offers recommendations for embedding staff safety in policies, budgets, and culture at museums, historical societies, and sites. Led by Bethany Hawkins, EVP/COO, attendees receive a customizable Staff Safety Plan template and resources to foster secure workplaces. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

Nonprofit Compliance: Legal Requirements and Best Practices
June 11 @ 3 to 4 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits & LegalCORPS – Monthly one-hour presentation covering essential legal requirements and best practices for charitable organizations and private foundations in Minnesota. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Handling Photographs for Digitization
June 16 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Center for Conservation of Art and Historic Artifacts – Digital Archives Specialist Kaitlyn Pettengill and Associate Photo Conservator Ivey Barker discuss unique challenges of digitizing photographs, including setup differences for cased photographs, glossy prints, and slides. Learn safe digitization setups based on your scale and budget, prioritize photo processes, and shape an effective strategy while minimizing handling damage. Submit questions in advance to shape the presentation. Cost: Free. Learn more »

STEPS Series | Financial Management
June 16 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History – Free STEPS member zoom presentation and discussion on financial management; hear how the Kinney Pioneer Museum (Iowa) updated its financial policies through STEPS, covering conflicts of interest, separation of duties, and ethics for transparency and sustainability. Join Q&A and conversation with STEPS participants nationwide. Registration and STEPS enrollment required. Cost: Free. Learn more »

10 Practical Steps for Getting Started with Digital Preservation
June 23 @ 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center – Learn introductory digital preservation concepts and 10 achievable tips for launching a program, including policy writing, developing intellectual control over digital collections, and storing and providing access to preserved files. Ideal for beginners establishing their first digital preservation program. Cost: $110. Learn more »

Hidden Supports: The Art and Practice of Mountmaking
June 24 @ 12 to 1 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections Care – Webinar for staff at small and mid-sized cultural institutions covering the holistic process of mountmaking for object safety during exhibition. Learn basics from customizing standard mount blanks in-house to working with contract mountmakers, following the path from object list to install, including key questions to ask and standards to uphold. Cost: Free. Learn more »

Creating Great Working Boards
June 25 @ 2 to 3:15 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History – Learn to evaluate board gaps and fill them, develop best practices for working with boards of directors, prioritize relationships over transactions, and implement alignment activities. Participants receive a detailed toolkit including a board matrix activity, board commitment documents, and the North Star Reflection Form. Cost: $25 members/$45 nonmembers. Learn more »

TIPS & TOOLS

• Small Historic House Museums Face Reduced Visitation, Increasing Costs; Here’s How They’re Cementing Their Spaces in America’s Communities - Community Sentinel

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONFERENCES

Funding & Awards

Quarterly Grants
Deadline - July 1, 2026: Northland Foundation - Place-based grants to nonprofits, Tribal nations, schools, and local governments serving northeast Minnesota (seven counties, five Native nations); general operating grants for in-region 501(c)(3) organizations, program-restricted grants for out-of-region nonprofits and governmental entities; supports capacity building and service delivery. Grant Amount: Median $25,000. Learn more »

Graves Foundation Grants
Deadline - Ongoing: J.D. Graves Foundation - Supports grassroots, community-led efforts to close equity gaps and improve youth lives in and around Minneapolis through education, youth development, and community-building initiatives, including housing and strengthening local public institutions; typically collaborates with nonprofits, organizers, researchers, and community leaders. Grant Amount: Median $30,000. Learn more »

Kresge Foundation — Arts & Culture Grants
Deadline - Ongoing: Kresge Foundation - Supports Creative Placemaking that integrates arts, culture, and community‑engaged design to advance equitable community development; grants focus on national networks, strengthening local systems, and place‑based initiatives. Learn more »

Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program
Deadline - Ongoing: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development - Provides loans and grants to help municipalities and nonprofit organizations (including museums and libraries) finance essential community facilities in rural areas, supporting construction, expansion, or renovation of public spaces and services. Learn more »

Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »

News

Vintage Museum Photo: Freeborn County Museum, Albert Lea, MN (1987). 
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.

What's New in Archival Cataloging for April 2026
Newly added accessions this month include the Beltrami County: Liberty Township Records and Birth and Death Records; Isanti County various school records; the Hmong Oral Histories Project: Oral History Interviews; and the United States District Court: Transcript, Trial of Evelyn Frechette.

Collections with additions or added digital content this month include Isanti County various school records; the Redwood County Auditor Tax Lists and Records; and the Lawrence Taliaferro Papers.

In addition there are many newly encoded finding aids that are now available online for the first time. Learn more »

History Center of Olmsted County receives $2.3 million in funding
KIMT 3 - Minnesota’s 2026 bonding bill includes $2.3 million to be allocated for an expansion of the History Center of Olmsted County (HSOC), just in time for its 100th anniversary. “Everything is coming together, we’ve had a great couple of years here, this year especially. It’s been crazy busy, but in a really, really good way. “ said Valerie Wassmer, Executive Director of HSOC. Continue reading »

SHA hopes to break ground this summer on water tower barn project
Forest Lake Times - Scandia Heritage Alliance hopes to break ground this summer on the long-anticipated Scandia Water Tower Barn Arts and Heritage Center that is set to be built on Olinda Trail near the Scandia Community Center and Gammelgarden Museum. SHA, the nonprofit organization behind the project, originally hoped to break ground this spring but got delayed in the bidding process, SHA board chair Susan Rodsjo told the Times. The nonprofit is still targeting a spring 2027 opening, according to Rodsjo. Continue reading »

Featured Book Northwoods Lullaby, by Mary Casanova; Illustrated by Jordan Sundberg. University of Minnesota Press. Author Event Date: June 7 @ 2 pm  Location: Wild Rumpus Books, Minneapolis, MN	Featured Article Minnesota History On gardening Volume 53, Issue 2, 1992	Featured Article MNopedia Minneapolis-Moline Company 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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