MNHS staff traveled to Tower, Minnesota, for a project site visit at the city’s historic Fire Hall, now owned by the Tower-Soudan Historical Society. The visit focused on restoration progress at the rear entrance and work on the building’s decorative ceilings and wood floors. Staff also paused for a different kind of sign inspection: documenting the acknowledgment language and logos crediting the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund and other funding sources displayed above the Main Street entrance.
Spotlighted Project: Publish: "Educating Minnesota's Children with Disabilities, Volume I: A History (1840-1960)" (Phase 3)
The volume documents how children with disabilities were once excluded from education and how families and advocates worked to open school doors. It examines policies that made early programs optional and left access uneven, especially in rural communities. It also explores the shift toward required services under Minnesota’s 1957 special education law. By organizing personal stories, policies, and practices by decade, the book preserves a vital history of changing attitudes and educational opportunities. The foundation plans to use the research in educator training to help future teachers and leaders understand the choices that shaped services.
Recipient: Minnesota Special Education Leaders Foundation (MNSELF)
Amount Funded: $9,954
Project Details
Grant Project, Phase 1: Write the "History of Educating, Not Educating, Minnesota's Children with Disabilities (1840-1960)"
Amount Funded: $32,132
Project Details
Grant Project, Phase 2: Professionally Edit "The Education of Minnesota's Children with Disabilities Volume I: A History (1840-1960)"
Amount Funded: $9,808.00
Project Details
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 »
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 8, 2027. Contact the Grants Office with questions.
NOVEMBER Grants Open House
November 5 - 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 Minnesota Jewish Genealogical Society. Have a blog? Let us know!
Pages of Testimony Reunite Families
When I started doing genealogy, I began by interviewing my aunt. From her I learned the names of ancestral towns, the family business of flour milling, and her memories of my great-grandfather. I asked her if there was anyone else she would suggest I speak with.
“Phyllis,” she replied.
“Who is Phyllis?” I asked.
“She rents my condo in Florida.”
Huh? I tried to process why a renter would know something of my family.
Noting my puzzled expression, she went on to explain that Phyllis was a survivor from Radom, Poland, the town my grandfather came from. Her family had worked in the same business as my family and she and my father shared a cousin who was a survivor. My father was related on his mother’s side, Phyllis on his father’s side.
And so, I called Phyllis. We had a long conversation which painted a picture of ancestors who had previously just been names. Her knowledge of them suddenly made them real. And I learned a fact that would prove important. Her aunt Chana Rosenberg was married to my grandfather’s oldest brother David Weinberg. David was 18 years older than my grandfather, a generation apart. Continue Reading »
This week's post is from the Fridley Historical Society. Have a video channel or podcast? Let us know!
| Martin Lueders - Memories of 1965 Fridley Tornadoes On October 10, 2026 Martin Lueders sat down with the Fridley Historical Society and discussed his memories of surviving the 1965 Fridley tornadoes. Watch Video » |
Heritage Preservation YouTube Playlist »
Minnesota Historical Society's Job Announcement, Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Opportunity pages.
Program Assistant, Visitor Services - Mille Lacs Indian Museum & Trading Post
Major Gifts Officer - MN History Center
Google Services Administrator Hybrid - MN History Center
Architectural Historian II - MN History Center
Facilities Coordinator - MN History Center
City Stories Tourism Associate - Rethos, St. Paul, MN
Associate Library Director, Access, Instruction, & Research Services - Macalester College, St. Paul, MN
Special Events Associate - Bell Museum, St. Paul, MN
Visitor Assistant: Security Guard - Minnesota Children's Museum, St. Paul, MN
Site Accountant - Old World Wisconsin, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison & Eagle, WI
General Museum Assistant - Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Research and Strategic Initiatives Manager - American Association for State and Local History, Remote
Manager of Email Engagement & Digital Advocacy - National Trust for Historic Preservation, Offsite
Illinois Main Street Manager - Landmarks Illinois, Travel throughout Illinois
Graphic Arts Designer - Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield, IL
Visitor Services Associate - Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL
ESI Coordinator - Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria, IL
Visitor Services Representative - The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Manager, Development Communications - Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
Archivist - Heritage and Research Center at Saint Mary's (HARC), Notre Dame, IN
Visitor Services & Administration Coordinator - Purdue Galleries at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Collections Manager - Denison Museum, Denison University, Granville, OH
Chinese Object Study Workshops & Chinese Art Research Specialist - University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI
Marketing & Brand Specialist - University of Michigan Museum of Art, Ann Arbor, MI
Accountant I - Nebraska State Historical Society, Lincoln, NE
Community Partnerships and Membership Coordinator - City of Wichita, Mid-America All-Indian Museum, KS
Architectural Consultant - Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Ambridge, PA
Visitor Experience Associate - Manitoba Museum, Winnipeg, MB
Manager, Conservation and Preservation - University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Manager, Collections and Registration - Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON
Manager, Marketing & Communications - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, Kitchener-Waterloo, ON
Senior Advisor, Museums & Collections Integration - City of Brampton, Brampton, ON
Museum Education Coordinator - Swift Current Museum, Swift Current, SK
Additional Job Postings in the Field »
Speeches at the Scott County Homecoming Celebration after WWI, October 10, 1919.
Image used with permission. From the collections of the Scott County Historical Society.
FAQ: How Can I Share My Event for the Local History News E-Newsletter?
The Right of the People: Anti-Fascist Propaganda, 1914–1945
Now through February 26, 2027 @ 9 am to 5 pm weekdays - Minneapolis: Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota - Explore reproductions of World War I and World War II posters documenting opposition to fascism, from its emergence through the rise and collapse of Nazi Germany. Drawn from the Special Collections and Rare Books collection, the exhibit examines how propaganda communicated resistance to fascist principles. Location: Second- and third-floor atrium galleries. Visitors without a U Card should call 612-624-7469 upon arrival for entry. Learn more »
Exhibit: Unburied - Death and Mourning in the Archives
Now through January 29, 2027 @ 9 am to 5 pm weekdays - Minneapolis: Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota - Explore how communities across cultures have understood death through burial traditions, mourning rituals, folklore, and literature. This exhibit draws on archival collections to illuminate experiences of loss and remembrance. Contains material about death and dying, including images of the deceased. Visitors without a U Card should call 612-624-7469 upon arrival for entry. Learn more »
Exhibit: Art of Flying - A to Z Story Stroll
Now through November - Apple Valley: Minnesota Zoo - Stroll through an alphabet of birds, with one bird representing each letter, illustrated with images from John Gould’s seven-volume The Birds of Asia (1850–1883), part of the Andersen Horticultural Library’s rare-book collection. Learn more »
Iron Range: Minnesota Building America Film Screening with Pam Brunfelt
October 25 @ 4 to 6 pm - Ely: Minnesota Humanities Center - Attend a screening of the Emmy Award-winning documentary Iron Range: Minnesota Building America, followed by a conversation with Iron Range historian, scholar, and educator Pam Brunfelt. The film explores the people, labor, and iron ore that helped shape Minnesota and modern America, and grew out of an immersive education program for teachers. Registration is required. Location: Ely’s Historic State Theater. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Threads of Tradition: A Cross-Stitch Workshop
October 25 @ 1 to 3 pm - St. Paul: Heritage Organization of Romanian Americans in Minnesota - Learn the basics of cross-stitch while exploring traditional Romanian embroidery, motifs, symbols, and techniques. Participants will create a simple project and discover how embroidery has preserved Romanian cultural identity and storytelling. Materials are provided; registration is required. Location: Landmark Center, Room 317. Learn more »
Civic Pride: Historic Courthouses of Minnesota
October 27 @ 6:30 to 7:30 pm - Marshall: Lyon County Museum - Photographer and historian Doug Ohman presents images and stories from all 87 Minnesota county courthouses, celebrating the architecture, history, and civic legacy of these treasured buildings. Light refreshments will be served. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Remarks on American Student Reactions to Visiting Poland
October 27 @ 6 to 7 pm - St. Paul: Polish American Cultural Institute of Minnesota - Join Professor Dorothy Pisarski of Drake University for reflections on seven travel seminars that brought Midwestern students to Poland to study World War II and the Holocaust at historic sites. The program examines how firsthand encounters with places and primary artifacts transformed students’ understanding of history and its relevance today. Location: Landmark Center, Chief Justice Room 430. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Objects of War: A Storytelling Circle of Service, Memory, & Community
October 27 @ 12 to 2:30 pm - Edina: Minnesota Humanities Center - Join veterans, military families, and community members for a guided storytelling circle exploring service, sacrifice, resilience, and the lasting human impact of war. Participants are invited to bring a meaningful object connected to military service—such as dog tags, a medal, photograph, letter, or family keepsake—and share its story. Facilitated conversation will foster empathy, preserve community memory, and create connections across generations. Part of Many Fronts | Veterans & Community Voices and Minnesota’s Veterans’ Voices Month. Location: Edina Senior Center. Cost: Free. Learn more »
History of Sokol
October 28 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - New Prague: New Prague Area Historical Society and Czech Heritage Club - Learn about Sokol, a Czech movement centered on nationalism, physical fitness, and community. The presentation will trace Sokol’s origins in Bohemia, its establishment in New Prague in 1884, and the Minnesota Sokol Meet held in New Prague in 1920. Location: Giesenbrau Bier Co. Social hour begins at 6 pm; presentation at 6:30 pm. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Becoming Neighbors: Story Stitch at the Hjemkomst Museum
October 29 @ 5 to 7 pm - Moorhead: Hjemkomst Museum and Green Card Voices - Share stories, meet neighbors, and build connections through Story Stitch, a conversation game created by Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds. Families, immigrants, refugees, and longtime residents are welcome. A free meal is provided, and participants can explore the exhibits Bearing Witness and Ukrainian Voices of Minnesota. RSVP by October 27. Location: Hjemkomst Museum. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Hauntings of Wright County 3
October 29 @ 6 to 7 pm - Buffalo: Wright County Historical Society - Local medium and paranormal investigator Theresa Pierce returns to share stories of haunted locations throughout Wright County. After the presentation, attendees can join a Q&A and share personal experiences. Recommended for ages 13 and older due to subject matter. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Trolls: The Monsters We Rewrote – Live Storytelling with Carol Ann of The InBetween
October 29 @ 6 to 7:30 pm - Minneapolis: Norway House - Join Carol Ann of The InBetween for an evening exploring the changing meaning of “troll,” from medieval Icelandic sagas and Swedish folk traditions to modern accounts of encounters and an Icelandic road crew’s decision to relocate a stone. The program blends research, storytelling, and Nordic folk belief, including firsthand accounts from the past century. Cost: $10 members; $15 general registration. Learn more »
Somali Museum of Minnesota 13th Anniversary Celebration
October 31 @ 6 to 10 pm - Hopkins: Somali Museum of Minnesota - Celebrate 13 years of the Somali Museum with an evening of Somali culture and arts featuring singers, actors, dancers, and community leaders. Location: Hopkins Center for the Arts. Cost: Not listed.
Learn more »
Pavek After Dark: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
October 31 @ 6 to 9 pm - St. Louis Park: Pavek Museum - Enjoy a live radio-drama adaptation of Washington Irving's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, performed by Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame members with professional live sound effects. The fundraising evening includes heavy appetizers, a cash bar, a silent auction, and a Booze Blind Box. VIP guests receive two drink tickets, reserved VIP seating, and a cast meet-and-greet beginning at 5:30 pm; the show starts at 7 pm. Cost: General admission $125; VIP $200. Learn more »
Honoring Distinguished Career Award Recipient Peter James Ward Richie
November 5 @ 1 pm - Online: Association of Midwest Museums - Join a moderated conversation with Pete Richie celebrating his 14 years of volunteer service on the Robbinsdale Historical Society's Board of Directors. Hear what inspired his service, what he has learned, and how his work in programs, multimedia communications, collections stewardship, and exhibitions has advanced the organization’s mission. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Stories of WWII: A Veteran’s Day Program
November 6 @ 6:45 pm - Luverne: Rock County Historical Society and Historic Palace Theatre - Deacon Kevin Aaker will portray Father Francis Sampson, the real Army chaplain whose story helped inspire Saving Private Ryan, followed by a screening of the film. Free-will donations will be shared between the Palace Theatre and Rock County Historical Society. Location: Historic Palace Theatre. Cost: Free-will donation. Learn more »
The Timekeeper's Ball
November 7 @ 6 to 10 pm - Mankato: Blue Earth County Historical Society - Celebrate 125 years of preserving Blue Earth County stories at an era-themed evening of dinner and dessert, specialty cocktails, music across 12 decades, interactive historical experiences, games of chance, and silent and live auctions supporting future exhibits and preservation work. Guests are encouraged to wear fashion from any era of the past 125 years; a limited VIP upgrade includes a drink ticket, cocktail hour, and a Timekeeper's gift. Cost: $85, One ticket for general seating. Learn more »
Explore Minnesota - State of MN's Tourism website
Listings: Museums & Galleries | Culture & Heritage | Attractions & Entertainment
Register for an Account »
Highlighted Museum: Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church operated by Millville Historical Society in Millville, MN.
Photograph by McGhiever, distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 license.
AASLH History Hour: Is This Place Haunted?
October 27 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: American Association for State and Local History - Connect with fellow history professionals during three rounds of informal breakout discussions: share ghost stories, explore ways to redirect paranormal questions toward historical interpretation, and exchange ideas for spooky-season programming. Registration is required. Cost: Free for members and nonmembers. Learn more »
Salvage Priorities: What’s Next?
October 28 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts - Maddie Cooper, Principal Conservator at M.C. Conservation Services, will use case studies to explore how to document collection salvage priorities and communicate them to first responders. Topics include using “Knox Boxes” to secure keys and institutional records and addressing the unique challenges of salvaging collections after a fire. Cost: Free. Learn more »
8 Essentials of Great Email Marketing in 2026
October 29 @ 3:30 to 5 pm (CT) - Online: Nonprofit Connect, promoted by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits - Jessica Best, owner of BetterAve, will share practical strategies for effective email design, copywriting, and data-driven marketing. Learn how to avoid common content mistakes and apply current email trends, with examples from recognizable organizations. Cost: $20 with promo code NCN2026. Learn more »
The Four Illusions of AI: What Museums Need to Understand
October 30 @ 3 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Edition - Nik Honeysett will explore four “illusions” of artificial intelligence—access, discoverability, certainty, and understanding—and examine what happens when museum content is interpreted by systems beyond institutional control. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Wet Salvage for Home and Community Collections
November 2 @ 11 am (CT) - Online: Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, in partnership with the University of Delaware - Join Associate Photograph Conservator Ivey Barker, Senior Book Conservator Eliza Gilligan, and Preservation Specialist Katie Lowe for practical guidance on salvaging home and community collections after a water emergency. Presentations, video demonstrations, and discussion will cover books, coated paper such as magazines, and 20th-century photographic materials. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Who Gets to Tell the Story at Historic Sites?
November 6 @ 4 pm (CT) - Online: Museum Edition - Omar Eaton-Martínez will explore who has the authority to tell difficult histories at historic sites and what is lost when complex narratives are replaced by a single, comfortable story. The session will examine interpretation and institutional independence amid political pressure. Cost: Free. Learn more »
The Indigenous Collections Care (ICC) Guide: Transform Stewardship at Your Institution
November 9 @ 2 pm (CT) - Online: Connecting to Collections Care - Join Laura Bryant of Gilcrease Museum, Laura Elliff Cruz of the School for Advanced Research’s Indian Arts Research Center, and Marla Taylor of the Robert S. Peabody Institute of Archaeology for an introduction to the Indigenous Collections Care Guide. Learn how the guide was developed and explore case studies that center Indigenous knowledge and community needs in culturally appropriate collections stewardship. Cost: Free. Learn more »
November 10 @ 12 pm (CT) - Online: Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office - Join Brigid Tuck of the University of Minnesota Extension’s Economic Impact Analysis program and Catherine Sandlund of the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office for an overview of Minnesota’s historic rehabilitation tax credit program. Explore case studies of underutilized historic properties transformed into housing and learn how communities can leverage historic tax credits to address local needs. Cost: Free. Learn more »
Additional Educational Opportunities »
Management Improvement Fund
Deadline - November 12, 2026: Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation - Supports Minnesota 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations with consultant services and training for strategic planning, board development, program evaluation, financial planning, and other organizational improvements. Limited funding may cover related participation costs and staff time. Applicants should contact mif@spmcf.org before applying and obtain a written consultant proposal or bid. Applications received after the deadline roll to the next quarterly cycle. Grant Amount: Up to $15,000. Learn more »
Public Art Grants
Deadline - November 18, 2026: Southwest Minnesota Arts Council - Supports organizations and city, county, or Tribal governments undertaking large-scale physical public art projects that create a lasting arts legacy and sustainable community access to the arts. Eligible applicants must be located in the Council’s 18-county southwest Minnesota region or the Lower Sioux and Upper Sioux communities. A 20 percent cash match is required. Grant Amount: Up to $20,000. Learn more »
Richard Blinder Award
Applications accepted - November through December 15, 2026: James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation - Supports individual architects and professionals in historic preservation or related fields whose proposals explore architecture and preservation and advance architectural preservation in the United States. Projects must produce a clear, achievable deliverable for broad dissemination within a two-year grant period. Applicants must have an established professional identity and be U.S. citizens or legal residents. Grant Amount: Up to $15,000. Learn more »
James Marston Fitch Mid-Career Fellowship
Applications accepted - November through December 15, 2026: 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 »
Mishler Brown Fund
Deadline - December 31: Community Foundation of Elkhart County - Supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) public charities advancing farming and agricultural education, historic preservation of farms, barns, and farming equipment, and protection of natural resources. Applicants may be located anywhere in the United States. Grant Amount: Varies based on project scope and alignment with the fund’s priorities. 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: Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church Museum, Millville, 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.
Lake County Historical Society Announces Search for New Executive Director
Press release - The Lake County Historical Society (LCHS) has begun its search for a new Executive Director following the departure of Ellen Lynch, who recently accepted the position of Executive Director at the Duluth Children's Museum. Lynch served as Executive Director of the Lake County Historical Society for eight years, providing leadership for the organization and helping guide its programs, collections, and operations throughout her tenure. Continue reading »
Blue Earth County Historical Society celebrates 125-year anniversary
Mankato Free Press - For Jessica Potter, it’s tough to call out one community favorite of the Blue Earth County Historical Society. The organization’s executive director said myriad facets please its 600 members, who live not only in Mankato and Blue Earth County but across the United States. Continue reading »
ACHS operates bed and breakfast at historic Ticknor house
Anoka County Union Herald - The Anoka County Historical Society found a new home at the Heman L. Ticknor House after considering options ranging from downtown storefronts to an entirely digital collection. Now, the society is working to find storage for artifacts that won’t fit in the historic house. Continue reading »
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Featured Book50 Years of the Hmong in Minnesota, Compiled by Dr. Mark Pfeifer and Dr. Yang Sao Xiong HER Publisher. |
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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 |
2026
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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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