The Wrecking Ball Gala on October 6 brought supporters of Rethos: Places Reimagined together at the historic Landmark Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, for an evening celebrating the Places Reimagined Awards. The annual event honored achievements in historic preservation, community revitalization, and adaptive reuse. Guests mingled and browsed auction tables while enjoying live music, appetizers, and drinks, celebrating the people and projects that gave Minnesota's older places new purpose.
Spotlighted State Capital Grants-in-Aid Project: Repointing the Worthington Armory Garage Walls
The garage restoration supports the Armory’s renewal as the Nobles County Historical Society’s home. After decades in a cramped library basement, the society relocated its offices and museum to the renovated building, gaining space for exhibits, research, and programs. The garage can now accommodate historic vehicles and larger artifacts previously stored at the society’s Pioneer Village site. A well-attended public open house celebrated the building’s renovation and centennial. By preserving the Armory and reopening it to the community, the society is connecting residents with a place that has shaped local life for generations.
Recipient: County of Nobles
Grant Funded Amount: $27,025 of $54,050 Total Project Cost (1:1 local match)
State Capital Grants-in-Aid Program
This grant opportunity supports capital preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, building systems, and accessibility projects at publicly owned historic properties. Sites must be National Register-listed or determined eligible for listing by SHPO, and applicants must provide a 1:1 match. Pre-applications are due January 22, 2027. Learn more »
Heritage Partnership Grant Program
Once a year, the Heritage Partnership Grant Program supports two or more Minnesota organizations to collaborate on history-oriented projects. Pre-applications for this grant round (requests of $10,000 or above) are due Friday, January 22, 2027. Contact the Grants Office with questions. Learn more »
Grants Office Webinar: First Steps Toward State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid (2027)
October 15 @ 2 to 3 pm (CT) - Online: The State Capital Projects Grants-in-Aid program offers funding for the upcoming 2027 round. This webinar is designed for public entities (units of state and local government) that own National Register or National Register–eligible properties.
We’ll cover program opportunities, project requirements, timelines, and how to get started—registration for grants portal access, the application process, and what the Capital Projects program can fund. This session is ideal for first-time applicants and anyone who wants a refresher. Presented by Grants Specialist Gillian Maguire & Design Reviewers Ryan Maciej and John Beaty.
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 Roseau County Historical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
Erickson Wagon Train-Bicentennial
In 1976, attention was on the Bicentennial Celebration of the United States. A local couple made a big commitment to that event by joining a wagon train. In the April 22, 1976, edition of the Roseau Times-Region, a photo of Andy and Oline Erickson of Badger showed them in their pioneer clothing alongside their covered wagon with this story:
The Andy Ericksons left on their dream trip of a lifetime Monday morning, April 12.
At 8 a.m., four trained and polished palominos put their shoulders to the harness, and Andy, Oline, and Gus Erickson moved out for the first leg on a journey that will take them to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
The Ericksons were ready for the Wagon Train Pilgrimage – a three-month journey that should put them at the site of the Revolutionary War battleground on July 4.
Only the bare necessities were in the wagon – the result of months and months of decisions and preparation this past winter. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Shakopee Heritage Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
| Jacob Ries Bottling Works John Radermacher discusses his Jacob Ries Bottling Works collection with the Shakopee Heritage Society in 2007. Watch Video » |
Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Deputy Director - Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi, St. Paul, MN
Visitor Assistant: Security Guard - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Experience Guide - American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, MN
Desktop Support Technician - Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
Annual Giving Coordinator - Wisconsin Historical Foundation, Madison, WI
Education and Public Programs Coordinator - Wade House Historic Site, Greenbush, WI
Outreach & Development Manager - Ephraim Historical Foundation, Ephraim, WI
Historic Sites & Programs Manager - Ephraim Historical Foundation, Ephraim, WI
Retail and Guest Service Associate - Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Executive Director - Chicago Cultural Alliance, Chicago, IL
Visitor Services Associate (2 Positions) - Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
Songbook Academy Program Manager - Great American Songbook Foundation, Carmel, IN
Archives & Collections Manager - Hancock Historical Museum, Findlay, OH
Archivist – Archives & Rare Books - University of Cincinnati Law Library, Cincinnati, OH
Registrar - Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, Dennison, OH
Director - The Gund at Kenyon College, Gambier, OH
Executive Director - Steam Railroading Institute, Owosso, MI
Museum Curator - REGION 3, Montgomery County, Norristown, PA
Planetarium Coordinator - University of Nebraska State Museum, Lincoln, NE
Protection Officer - Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, MB
Fellowship - HBCU (Historically Black College or University) Radio Preservation Project, Yellow Springs, OH
Research Fellow, Missouri Remembers Project - Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
Membership Intern - Missouri History Museum, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
Exhibit Designer - Missouri History Museum, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
Digital Communications Intern - Missouri History Museum, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
Exhibit Design Intern - Missouri History Museum, Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, MO
MNHS Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Home Economics Class in Attic of 1903 High School Building in Bagley.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Clearwater County Historical Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
The Great Pumpkin Train
October 15 to 18 @ departs 10:30 am, 1 pm and 3:30 pm - Duluth: North Shore Scenic Railroad, Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Ride a roughly 90-minute round-trip train from the historic Duluth Depot to a pumpkin patch along the North Shore, where each ticketed passenger may select a pumpkin to take home. Back at the Depot, tickets include admission to the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, with magic shows, a ventriloquist, balloon twisting, coloring, and other family activities. Location: Duluth Depot. Cost: $38; $58 domecar seats; $5 additional per ticket on Saturday; children age 2 and under ride free. Learn more »
History Book Club Fall Series Session 1: Minnesota 1918 by Curt Brown
October 17, November 21, and December 19 @ 10 am - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Explore Minnesota’s turbulent year of 1918 through Curt Brown’s Minnesota 1918, which examines World War I, the influenza pandemic, and the devastating northeastern Minnesota fires. The three-part series includes an introduction and historical context, a “History at Home” presentation with author Curt Brown, and a concluding group book discussion. Cost: $50 for the three-session series. Learn more »
Tour the Lepak/Larson House Museum
October 17 @ 10 am to 12 pm - Shoreview: Shoreview Historical Society - Take a guided tour of the recently established Lepak/Larson House Museum, which interprets life in the Shoreview area during the 1930s and 1940s. Board members will lead the tours and answer questions about early twentieth-century local life. Cost: Not listed. Learn more »
Leon Lewis & Sam Scheiner Film Premiere
October 18 @ 5 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest - Join the premiere of a film about Leon Lewis and Sam Scheiner, two Midwestern Jewish leaders who confronted antisemitism in their communities and beyond. Lewis helped expose and disrupt American Nazi Party plots in 1930s Los Angeles, while Scheiner spent nearly 35 years leading Minnesota’s Anti-Defamation Council, predecessor to today’s JCRC. Their stories illuminate past courage and its relevance today. Location: Minnesota Sabes JCC. Learn more »
Drinking in History: Section 106 at a Crossroads
October 19 @ 6:30 to 8 pm - St. Paul: Rethos - Rethos Deputy Director Erin Hanafin Berg will discuss Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, proposed federal regulatory revisions, and their potential impact on historic places and communities. Learn how the review process works, where the rulemaking stands, and how the public can participate. Location: Waldmann Brewery. Learn more »
Enmity and Empathy: Japanese Americans in Minnesota During World War II Program by Ka Wong
October 20 @ 6:30 to 7:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - St. Olaf College Professor Ka Wong will discuss Japanese Americans who resettled in Minnesota after incarceration during World War II, drawing on interviews, archival sources, and historical research. His presentation explores how resettlers rebuilt their lives, contributed as students, nurses, and soldiers, and formed bonds of solidarity with local allies despite wartime hostility. Wong’s book Enmity and Empathy: Japanese Americans in Minnesota During World War II won the 2026 Emilie Buchwald Award for Minnesota Nonfiction. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: Free. Learn more »
History Break with Clare Pavelka: The Red Wing Way – New Release
October 21 @ 12 to 1 pm - Red Wing: Goodhue County Historical Society - Celebrate the release of The Red Wing Way: From Main Street to Global Legacy with Red Wing Shoe Company historian and archivist Clare Pavelka. Drawing on archival materials and historical photographs, the book traces the company’s history within the broader context of Red Wing and Dakota homelands, exploring work, craftsmanship, community, and innovation. Books will be available for purchase in the museum gift shop. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Polish Literature in English Reading Group
October 21 @ 7 to 8:30 pm (CT) - Online: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota - Discuss Monologue of a Dog by Nobel laureate Wisława Szymborska, exploring her humor, irony, compassion, and reflections on history, memory, love, and everyday life. Participants are invited to select a favorite poem to read aloud; the dual-language edition allows readers to compare translations with the Polish original. Google Meet details will be emailed after registration. Cost: Free; donations are welcome. Learn more »
Reading Center Alumni Panel & History Display
October 22 @ 6 to 8 pm - Rochester: History Center of Olmsted County - Celebrate The Reading Center’s 75th anniversary with a history display, social hour, and panel discussion moderated by Ilaya Rome Hopkins, granddaughter of cofounder Paula Rome. Alumni including a physician, attorney, entrepreneurs, and community leaders will share how they navigated dyslexia and how The Reading Center supported their success. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Rice County Historical Society Centennial Annual Meeting
October 22 @ 5 to 7 pm - Faribault: Rice County Historical Society - Celebrate RCHS’s centennial with reflections on its first 100 years, plans for the future, and a brief business meeting. Dinner is included. Cost: $30 members; $35 nonmembers. Learn more »
Stories from the Haunted Museum
October 23 @ 2 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, and 7 pm - Fergus Falls: Otter Tail County Historical Society - Storytellers share true and accurate accounts of grisly murders, bizarre events, and spine-tingling Otter Tail County history, separating local lore from documented details. Parental guidance is suggested for children under 12. Cost: $10 members; $10 general public for the 2 pm matinée; $12 for the 5 pm and 7 pm shows. Learn more »
Tour the Immigration History Research Center Archives
October 23 @ 1 to 2 pm - Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Immigration History Research Center - Join a guided tour of the Immigration History Research Center Archives, including an introduction to archival research and a visit to the caverns beneath Elmer L. Andersen Library. Designed for University of Minnesota graduate students, the program will highlight materials available at the IHRCA and provide an opportunity to discuss research approaches. Location: Elmer L. Andersen Library, Room 308. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Great Decisions: U.S. Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
October 23 @ 10 to 11:30 am (CT) - Online: Ramsey County Library - Todd Lefko, president of International Business Development Company, will examine how U.S. trade and tariff policies are reshaping global economic norms. The discussion will consider the rationale behind the policy shift and its implications for multilateral trade and geopolitics. Part of the Great Decisions discussion series. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Snowshoe Weaving Workshop: Build Your Own Traditional Ojibwa Snowshoes
October 24 @ 9 am to 5 pm - Roseau: Roseau County Historical Society - Learn a traditional craft and weave your own pair of Ojibwa-style snowshoes using a Northern Toboggan Co. kit with white ash frames and nylon lacing. Participants will work step by step with instructor guidance and take home their finished snowshoes. Cost: $75 per person plus a small processing fee. Learn more »
Time Travel Through Art and Letters
October 24 @ 2 to 3:30 pm - Grand Marais: Cook County Historical Society - Celebrate the expansion of Letters to Our Future, a project documenting community experiences and preserving local history for future generations. Hear how historical letters inform research and storytelling, draft a letter reflecting on life in 2026 for possible inclusion in an exhibit, archives, or a 20-year time capsule, and learn about the Call to Artists seeking proposals to design and build the time capsule. Location: Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Village Fright Night
October 24 - Owatonna: Steele County Historical Society - Experience the darker side of the Village of Yesteryear with a flashlight-lit stroll through historic buildings while actors share scary and paranormal stories from Steele County and southern Minnesota. Parental discretion is advised, as some stories may not be suitable for young children. No candy will be distributed. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Winona Walking Tours: Haunted History of Downtown Winona
October 24, 25, and 31 @ 1 to 2 pm - Winona: Winona County Historical Society - Explore the unexplained side of historic downtown Winona on a special Halloween walking tour. The one-hour tour begins and ends at the Winona County History Center. Cost: $6–$10. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »
Highlighted Museum: Byron Area Historical Society Museum (Old Byron City Hall), Byron, MN.
Share your ideas at the 2027 AASLH Annual Conference. Propose a session with clear learning goals, active participation, and practical takeaways attendees can use. Creative formats and presenters with diverse institutions, places, and perspectives are welcomed. Proposals are due December 4; the portal opens soon. Learn more »
Creating Tomorrow’s Museums Today
October 16 @ 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Edition - Isabella Bruno, founder of the Lab for Radical Museum Futures, will introduce how design fiction, experiential futures, playful experimentation, and conversation can help reimagine museums. Participants will explore how speculative practice can challenge assumptions about museums and help create more just, liberated, and wondrous futures. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Community Engagement from the Inside Out
October 23 @ 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Edition - Milena Acosta, Vice President of Audience Engagement at the Japanese American National Museum, will explore how museums can move beyond outreach to build relationships grounded in trust, reciprocity, and shared authority. The session will address community-informed decision-making, sustaining relationships beyond individual projects, and building staff capacity for engagement across all roles. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Grassroots Digital Archiving Workshop
October 20 @ 6 to 8 pm - Minneapolis: Liberal Arts Engagement Hub - Join the Northland Digitization Project for the first in a two-part workshop series on building and sustaining low-cost, community-led digital archives. Learn about accessible archiving tools, Omeka's free open-source platform, community consent and data privacy, and ways local archivists and memory-keeping initiatives can share resources. Appetizers, beverages, and community parking validation are provided. Location: Pillsbury Hall, U of MN. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Getting Started in Local Advocacy
October 20 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - This webinar will introduce local advocacy for small and mid-sized history organizations, including practical techniques, concrete examples, and tools for demonstrating an organization’s value and building community relationships. It builds on AASLH’s Speak Up for History: Getting Started in Local Advocacy manual and is co-sponsored by six regional museum associations. Cost: $25 members; $45 nonmembers. Learn more »
Nonprofit Compliance: Legal Requirements and Best Practices
October 21 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and LegalCORPS - Joshua D. Franklin, Esq., will cover essential legal requirements and best practices for Minnesota charitable organizations and private foundations, including maintaining tax-exempt status, safeguarding charitable assets, and effective governance. Designed for new and experienced nonprofit leaders; the session will not be recorded. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Tracking to Traction: Making Informed Social Media Content Decisions
October 22 @ 1 pm (CT) - Online: American Alliance of Museums - Emily Crowe, Social Media Specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, will share how metrics can shape a museum’s digital strategy and how niche subject matter can help build an engaged audience. The webinar includes a Q&A and will be closed-captioned. Cost: Free for members; $40 for nonmembers. Learn more »
Cultural Access for Educators
October 22 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Cultural Access Collaborative - Learn how to make programs accessible to educators and students, from a school’s first contact with your website or registration process through accessible program facilitation. The session will explore welcoming, inclusive, and efficient approaches for schools and staff. Real-time captioning and sign-language interpretation will be provided. Cost: Free; $5 suggested donation. Learn more »
Grant Writing for Collections Preservation
October 27 @ 11:30 am (CT) - Online: Northeast Document Conservation Center - An NEDCC preservation specialist will cover key considerations for preparing local, state, federal, and foundation grant applications to support collections preservation. Cost: Free. Learn more »
How to Have More Productive Conversations with Donors
October 29 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Productive Fundraising - Chad Barger, ACFRE, ACNP, will share practical, immediately usable tips for improving conversations with donors and strengthening donor interactions. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Digitizing Hidden Collections: Amplifying Unheard Voices
Deadline - October 20, 2026: Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) - Supports the digitization of rare and unique collections held by U.S. organizations that deepen public understanding of histories insufficiently recognized or unattended, including those of Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other People of Color; women; LGBTQ+ people and communities; immigrants; displaced populations; Blind, Deaf, and Disabled people; and colonized, disenfranchised, enslaved, and incarcerated people. The program is generously supported by the Mellon Foundation. Learn more »
Art Preservation Fund Grant
Deadline - October 30, 2026: Art Preservation Fund - Supports conservation treatment and preservation outcomes for specific art and historical collection items held in public trust by small and mid-sized nonprofits. The program pairs funding with expert matchmaking and public storytelling to strengthen community connections and advance field-wide advocacy for conservation and preservation. Learn more »
Sauk Centre Area Community Foundation: Community Impact Grants
Deadline - October 31, 2026: Sauk Centre Area Community Foundation - Funds projects that build community and create lasting, positive change in the Sauk Centre area. Priority areas include youth and education, health and recreation, civic activities, culture, and productive aging. Favorable consideration is given to innovative, collaborative projects that build connections across generations and cultures, including projects tied to the “Boost Up Sauk Centre” process. Grant Amount: $3,000–$20,000. Learn more »
Charles and Carolyn Russell Family Foundation Grant
Deadline - November 1, 2026: Charles and Carolyn Russell Family Foundation - Supports charitable causes primarily in Duluth, with program areas including arts, culture, and humanities; education; environment and animals; health; human services; public and society benefit; and religion. Grant Amount: Average grants of $1,000–$5,000; approximately eight grants totaling $27,500 are awarded annually. Learn more »
Spark Good Local Grant
Deadline - November 30, 2026: Walmart.org - Supports local organizations addressing the unique needs of communities where Walmart operates. Grants are awarded annually through Walmart U.S. stores, Sam’s Clubs, and Distribution Centers. Grant Amount: $250–$5,000. Learn more »
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Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums - Minnesota History Awards |
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American Association for State and Local History - Leadership in History Awards |
Additional Funding & Award Opportunities »
Vintage Museum Photo: Exhibits at the Gus Akerlund Studio Museum. Cokato, 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.
Benton County Historical Society Closes For Major Renovation And Four New Exhibits
WJON - The Benton County Historical Society and Museum will be temporarily closing while it completes some new exhibit spaces. The closure will start on Monday, October 19 and last until December 6. The second level of the building in Sauk Rapids has been completely renovated. Executive Director Lacey Fontaine says they have four new exhibits coming. Continue reading »
Something ventured, something grained: Dassel honors roots with corn-growing project
KARE 11 - The Historical Society helped jump-start the lawn project, sending out packets of seeds to 65 people. A lot of Midwest communities claim to be the corn capital of the United States. Only one is trying to prove it. Dassel, Minnesota, was once home to two dozen independent seed corn companies. Early 20th-century farmers in town helped develop the crop, allowing it to withstand cold Minnesota temperatures. Continue reading/Watch Video »
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Featured BookRomantic Sensation: The Queer Lives of Leon A. Belmont, 1853–1927, by Lizzie Ehrenhalt University of Minnesota Press. Book Launch Event |
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Inclusion & Community EngagementFeatured story: Descendants retrace African American family history in Fergus Falls Fall edition |
Minnesota History Organizations Directory• County, Chapters, and Local |
Minnesota Main Streets |
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Preservation Specialists Directory |
Local History News is produced by the Minnesota Local History Services Office, a service of the Minnesota Historical Society since 1916, which helps local historical organizations in preserving and making accessible Minnesota history and cultural heritage.
Services include: On-site, online, phone, and e-mail consultation; Professional development; and Grants.
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