Local History Services staff demonstrated Wikipedia editing at the Rooted in Resilience event at the Minnesota History Center, which celebrated 50 years of Hmong Americans in Minnesota with exhibits, storytelling, film, performances, hands-on activities, and Southeast Asian food, honoring community strength and culture. Showcasing how Wikipedia helps educate about Hmong history and culture, attendees learned to contribute and improve entries, supporting accurate representation of the Hmong community.
The Grants Office and Local History Services staff are heading to the Anoka County Historical Society to chat about Legacy grants and answer YOUR questions! Open houses are office-hours style, so there will be no presentation and you are welcome to drop in anytime during the time listed below for a short or long chat with one of our specialists. Prospective applicants, current applicants, and grantees are all welcome!
December 4 @ 10:30 am to 12 pm
Anoka County Historical Society
2135 Third Ave, Anoka, MN (map)
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, January 9, 2026. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
DECEMBER Grants Open House (Online)
December 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 Webinar: 2026 Heritage Partnership Grants can be a Project’s Second Chance
November 20 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: Once a year, the Heritage Partnership Grant program helps groups of two or more Minnesota organizations collaborate on history-oriented projects. This webinar will focus on how to repurpose previously unfunded applications for the Partnership program—a strategy that helped several applicants secure funding last year. We'll also cover the process of conceiving and applying for a Heritage Partnership Grant. Presented by Grants Specialist John Fulton.
Join online: meet.google.com/zwx-krei-com
Join by phone: (US) +1 386-361-3086 PIN: 420 891 978#
Grants Office YouTube Playlist »
This week's blog post is from the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County. Have a blog? Let us know!
Ostrander Bell Tower
Do you remember the hours being counted out by the sound of bells on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato? Did you know its source? It was the Ostrander Bell Tower.
The tower was proposed by a campus beautification committee in 1985. According to an editorial in the Free Press in 1987, little thought was given to the beauty of the campus when it was begun. There was no plan for landscaping. The buildings were boxy. The few trees that were planted were donated by a nursery going out of business. In time, architectural items were added, like the water fountain outside the library.
The bell tower was to become a part of an Alumni Plaza, with the tower as “an orientation point and symbol for MSU.” No tuition or state money was to be used in its construction. Bricks were sold to help raise money to be used in the plaza. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the History Center of Olmsted County. 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.
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Photo from a photo album titled "Scenes from the summer camp 1912 at Lake Itasca. Classes '13- '15, U of M College of Forestry."
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?
Life of a 911 Dispatcher
November 20 @ 7 to 8:30 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Join Janelle Rosin for an eye-opening lecture about the critical role and intense work of a 911 dispatcher, sharing compelling stories from emergency response. Cost: $5 per participant, free for HCOC members. Learn more »
All Things Minnesota Book Club: Winter's Song: A Hymn to the North
November 20 @ 3:30 to 5:30 pm - Shakopee: Scott County Historical Society - Winter’s Song: A Hymn to the North by T.D. Mischke explores the deep and complex relationship Minnesotans have with their long, harsh winters. Mischke, a longtime Twin Cities radio host, writer, and podcaster, blends humor, introspection, and storytelling in this collection of essays, poems, and short stories that celebrates winter’s beauty, challenges, and cultural significance. Location: Scott County Historical Society. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Victorian-era Fashion with Rae Lundquist
November 20 @ 6 to 7 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Rae Lundquist, owner and sewist of Dreamstitcher Custom Costume, presents an expert talk on Victorian-era fashion, exploring the evolving styles for men and women in the late 1800s. Learn how fashion trends changed and how people kept up during that era in this installment of the Thursday Night Speaker Series. Cost: Free for members, $5 for nonmembers. Learn more »
Christmas, Cocktails & Charcuterie
November 21 @ 7 to 9 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Historical Society Museum - Enjoy a festive evening of holiday cocktails and charcuterie in a cozy historic setting. Cost: $25. Learn more »
Foshay! A New Musical Reading
November 21 & 22 @ 7 to 9 pm, November 23 @ 2 to 4 pm - Minneapolis: Hennepin History Museum - During the Roaring Twenties, Wilbur Burton Foshay was an ambitious businessman who built the iconic Foshay Tower. This new musical reading tells the true story of his rise and fall during the Great Depression. Directed and music directed by Amanda Weis, the one-hour condensed reading includes a talk back with the audience. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Gingerbread Architecture: The Sweet Elements of Design
November 22 @ 11 am to 12 pm - St. Cloud: Stearns History Museum - Tap your inner architect at this all-ages, family-friendly workshop where you'll learn the basics of architecture and structural design using gingerbread and frosting. Led by Whitney Lougheed, Project Architect with JLG Architects, the class includes gingerbread kits from Cold Spring Bakery and a behind-the-scenes tour of Granite Innovations afterward. Location: Granite Innovations, St. Cloud, MN. Cost: $15. Learn more »
2025 St. Louis County Historical Society Native American Heritage Day
November 22 @ 11 am to 3 pm - Duluth: St. Louis County Historical Society - Celebrate Native American heritage with community events and cultural presentations. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Personal Digital Archiving
November 22 @ 10 to 11 am - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - In this presentation, WCHS Archivist Marisa explores the importance of personal digital archiving, offering tools and strategies to help individuals organize, preserve, and protect their digital memories, documents, and creations. Learn about the challenges related to the longevity and accessibility of digital materials. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Minnesota Remembers Nuremberg
November 24 @ 7 to 8 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum - This special online event marks the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, a landmark moment that held Nazi war criminals accountable and set enduring standards for international law. The program honors those who served and bore witness to history, emphasizing the ongoing importance of remembrance. Learn more »
History of Brewing
November 25 @ 5 to 9 pm - Stillwater: Washington County Historical Society - Watch the short film Suds on the St. Croix by Paul Creager, highlighting the brewing history of the St. Croix Valley from early breweries like Knipp Brewery to today's craft breweries. Location: Lift Bridge Brewery. Cost: Free. Learn more »
St. Nikolaustag on the Farm
December 6 @ 11 am to 4 pm - Maplewood: Maplewood Area Historical Society - Celebrate the season with Minnesota German holiday traditions, live music, kids’ crafts, and a festive vendor market. Meet St. Nikolaus for photos in the decorated barn. Location: Bruentrup Heritage Farm, 2170 County Road D East, Maplewood. Cost: Free (suggested donation $10 per person or $30 per family). Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »
Highlighted Museum: Wells Depot Museum, Wells, MN.
Photograph by Elkman, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.
Session proposals for the 2026 MALHM Annual Conference & Meeting are due by the end of the day! Help us put together an exciting conference schedule. Sessions will take place on Wednesday & Thursday, April 29-30, 2026, in Mankato, MN. Learn more »
Archives Basics
November 24 @ 5 pm (CT) - Online: Backlog Archivists - Learn practical steps for establishing a solid foundation when taking on a new or disorganized archival collection, with guidance tailored to archivists managing materials in institutions where archives are not the primary focus. Cost: Free. Learn more »
History Hour: Internships
November 25 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) - Join AASLH’s monthly History Hour for a discussion on internships in the history field, exploring best practices, challenges, and strategies for creating meaningful experiences for interns and host organizations alike. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Simplified Fundraising Planning for Small Nonprofits
November 25 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Productive Fundraising - Learn how to create a focused, achievable fundraising plan tailored for small nonprofits. This session covers simple, actionable steps to help you organize efforts, prioritize activities, and strengthen fundraising success. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Assessing the Financial Health of Your Nonprofit Organization
December 2 @ 9 to 11 am (CT) - Online: Propel Nonprofits - Gain practical tools to evaluate your nonprofit’s financial stability through 10 key indicators that blend financial metrics with leadership practices, helping you strengthen long-term sustainability in a changing nonprofit environment. Cost: $70. Learn more »
Deaccessioning Deep Dive
December 2 @ 12 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) - Take a practical, in-depth look at deaccessioning policies and processes, including ethical considerations, institutional planning, and communication strategies for managing collection change responsibly. Cost: $100 members/$150 nonmembers. Learn more »
Strategic Planning 101
December 3 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Association of New York - Learn the fundamentals of strategic planning in this interactive workshop covering key components, scaling approaches, and what to expect throughout the planning and implementation process. Includes time for Q&A and discussion. Cost: Free. Learn more »
How a Conservator Looks at Works on Paper
December 4 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) - Gain insight into how conservators assess works on paper, including identifying condition issues, understanding materials, and evaluating preservation needs for collections care and display. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Event Planners Incubator
December 9 @ 11 am to 12 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Connect with peers who plan events for nonprofits to share strategies, challenges, and creative ideas for hosting impactful in-person and virtual events. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Museum Career Maintenance: Winterize Your Job Search
December 10 @ 1 to 2 pm (CT) - Online: Your Museum Career Coach - Join career coach and museum professional Alli Schell for practical guidance on navigating the museum job market with confidence. Learn strategies to refine your search, strengthen applications, and stay motivated during slower hiring seasons. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Workshop: Strengthening History Communication: Reframing the Value of History and Your Institution
December 11 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) - Learn strategies for communicating the relevance of history more effectively and framing your institution’s work to connect with contemporary audiences and community needs. Cost: $100 members/$150 nonmembers. Learn more »
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September 16 - 19, 2026 |
March 19 - 21, 2026 |
April 28 - 30, 2026 |
Additional Educational Opportunities »
The Minnesota Digital Library (MDL) is launching a new creative writing contest. Using any item in MDL as a prompt, participants will write a fictional short story, poem, or other creative piece. Winning stories will be published in a special online exhibit. The deadline is November 30, 2025. Learn more »
James Marston Fitch Mid-Career Fellowship
Deadline - December 15: James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation - Supports mid-career professionals in historic preservation who are pursuing research, writing, or projects that advance the field through innovation and scholarship. Learn more »
George Stout Scholarship
Deadline - December 15: American Institute for Conservation - Provides financial assistance for AIC student or post-graduate members to attend the AIC Annual Meeting. Grant Amount: $1,000. Learn more »
Winterthur Research Fellowship Program
Deadline - January 15, 2026: Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library - Open to academic, independent, and museum scholars, as well as advanced graduate students, for short- and long-term residential research fellowships in social and cultural history. Research areas include material culture, architecture, decorative arts, design, consumer culture, garden and landscape studies, Shaker studies, travel and tourism, the Atlantic World, and objects in literature. Learn more »
Society of American Archivists Awards and Scholarships
Deadline - February 28, 2026: Society of American Archivists (SAA) - Annually recognizes leaders and achievers in the archives field through awards for excellence, travel awards, student scholarships, and the designation of SAA Fellows. Open to individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions, innovative publications, and financial assistance to support conference attendance or graduate education. Awards will be presented at ARCHIVES*RECORDS 2026. Learn more »
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: George Stoppel Farmstead, Rochester Township, Olmsted County, Rochester, 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.
A content update to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub today added 17,662 new issues and 300,480 new newspaper pages. New publicly available titles & date spans:
New issues for the years 1995-2025 were also added to several existing current newspaper titles, available to view only in the MNHS Library.
Historical Society celebrates 65th anniversary
Caledonia Argus - The Houston County Historical Society celebrated 65 years on Nov. 2 and dedicated its history museum. The annual meeting was held in the museum, fittingly surrounded by the very history the Society preserves. Continue reading »
In western Minnesota, a fleet of World War II aircraft brings a fading era to life
MinnPost - In Granite Falls, the Fagen Fighters World War II Museum houses working ‘warbirds’ and honors military veterans who helped define the Greatest Generation. Continue reading »
Spend a day living in the present at the History Center of Olmsted County
Rochester Post Bulletin - History might repeat itself, but you'll see a variety the history of Olmsted County if you spend a day at the History Center of Olmsted County. Recently, I perused the History Center, intrigued by its many treasures ranging from an adult mammoth tusk dating back more than 11,800 years to a 7-foot-tall scale replica of the Plummer Building built from 60,000 Lego pieces. Continue reading »
MSU Students Bridge Art, History and Heritage
MSU Reporter - In a quiet building on Broad Street, the Blue Earth County Historical Society (BECHS) holds more than just old photographs and dusty archives. For Minnesota State students, it has become a living classroom — a place where art, culture and history converge. Continue reading »
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Featured BookWhere is Home-A Memoir of General Vang Pao, edited and compiled by Brian V. Xiong, Marlin L. Heise, Yuepheng L. Xiong, & Chao R. Lee MHER Publisher. |
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Minnesota UnraveledRingside: Histories of Boxing in the Twin Cities Episode 203
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